Absence of Judge stalls final forfeiture of judgement of Allison Madueke’s penthouses

THE absence of Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday stalled EFCC’s suit seeking the final forfeiture of two penthouse structures, allegedly linked to a former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The suit was adjourned till February 14 Justice Olatoregun is said to be attending a workshop.

Recall that Olatoregun had on Dec. 5, 2017, ordered an interim forfeiture of the said properties, after an exparte (without notice) application, was argued by The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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Respondents in the application are Alison-Madueke, Donald Amagbo, Schillenburg LLC, and Sequoyah Property Ltd.

The court had ordered that the properties: Penthouse 21 building 5, Block C, 11 floors, Bella Vista, Banana Island, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate) also in Ikoyi, Lagos, be forfeited to the Federal government, pending the conclusion of an investigation.

EFCC Counsel, Mr Anslem Ozioko had also asked the court for an order prohibiting any disposal, sale or alienation of the said assets, as they were suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity.

The commission also sought an order authorizing it to appoint a competent person(s) or firm, to manage the said properties.
Ozioko had told the court that the application was brought in pursuant to sections 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other fraud-related offences Act.

Justice Olatoregun granted the application and ordered that the two properties be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government.

The judge, had, however, refused to grant the order authorizing the anti-graft agency to appoint a competent person or firm to manage the said properties