JUSTICE Abdulaziz Anka of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the interim forfeiture of 56 houses allegedly bought between 2011 and 2013 for $21,982,224 million (N3,320,000,000 billion) by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), sought for the forfeiture through an ex parte application filed August 16, 2017
Justice Anka authorised the EFCC to appoint a firm to manage the properties and gave the respondents 14 days to show because why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The judge directed the agency to publish the order in any national newspaper and adjourned till September 8.
The application, brought pursuant to sections 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud related offences Act 2006 and Section 44(2)(k) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) sought and obtained a temporary transfer of the property to the Federal Government.
Listed as first to sixth respondents in the suit are Diezani, Donald Chidi Amamgbo and three firms, Chapel Properties Limited, Blue Nile Estate Limited, Azinga Meadows Limited and Vistapoint Property Development Limited.
EFCC counsel Mr Anselem Ozioko told Justice Anka that Diezani paid $16,441,906 (N2.6billion) cash in several tranches and another $5,540318 (N840,000,000) cash for the properties through four ‘front’ firms which held the titles in trust for her.
He listed the firms as Chapel Properties, Blue Nile Estate, Azinga Meadows and Vistapoint Property Development.
Ozioko said the commission had discovered 14 other firms incorporated for the ex-minister for the purpose of holding the titles to those properties.
Diezani, he added, purchased the properties from the proceeds of suspected unlawful activity during her tenure as minister.
The agency described the properties as including 29 terraced houses comprising eight four-bedroom penthouse apartments, six three-bedroom apartments, two three-bedroom maisonettes, two twin bedroom apartments and one four-bedroom apartment.
The houses, located at No. 7, Thurnbull Street and 5, Raymond Street, Yaba, were allegedly bought by Diezani for the US dollar equivalent of N937,000,000 through Chapel Properties Ltd.
Others are 16 four-bedroom terraced houses in Heritage Court Estate, Plot 2C, Omerelu Street, Diobu, Government Residential Area (GRA) Phase 1 extension, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, purchased for N928,000,000 through Blue Nile Estate Ltd.
She allegedly purchased 13 three-bedroom terraced houses with one-room maid’s quarters ensuite for N650,000,000 through Azinga Meadows Ltd.
The commission also stated that Diezani paid N805,000,000 through Vistapoint property Development Ltd, for six flats of three bedrooms and one boys’ quarters each, a lawn tennis court, gym and ‘matured garden’
According to an affidavit in support of the application by an EFCC investigative officer, Mr Sombori Mayana, the commission got wind of the properties in 2016 following it’s execution of a search warrant on the office and premises of Diezani’s acquaintance, Mr Donald Chidi Amamgbo.
“The report contained a list of 18 companies and several properties located in The United Kingdom, Nigeria and The United States of America.
“During the course of his interview, Mr Donald Amamgbo told us that he registered the 18 companies to assist Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke in holding titles of the properties,” the EFCC investigator said.
The commission further averred that a principal manager and head, business development of FBN Mortgages Ltd, Mrs Bolanle Onotu, confirmed that the properties were sold by her organisation to Diezani’s alleged four proxy firms for N937m, N928m and N650m and received payment through First Bank account numbers 2004483850 and 2008133531 between September 23, 2011 and June 16, 2015.
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