Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Tuesday, ordered that two penthouse linked to embattled former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, be temporary forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria.
According to the Judge, the two properties: Penthouse 21 building 5, Block C, 11 floor (Bella Vista Estate) Banana Island, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate) also in Ikoyi, Lagos, be forfeited to the Nigerian government, pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission through its counsel, Anselem Ozioko approached the court with an Ex-parte application for interim forfeiture of the said properties.
The Ex-parte application marked FHC/L/CS/1793c/17, has Diezani Alison-Madueke, Donald Amagbo, Schillenburg LLC, and Sequoyah Property Limited, as respondents.
EFCC also asked the court for an order prohibiting any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the said assets/properties, as they were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
EFCC also sought for an order appointing competent person(s)/ firms to manage the said two properties.
The EFCC in affidavit deposed to by one of its investigators, Abdulrasheed Bawa, stated that during investigation into the ownership of the two properties, YF Construction Development and Real Estate Limited, and that the firm’s deputy Managing Director, one Mr. Fadi Basbous, volunteered extra-judicial statement, wherein he stated that the two properties were sold at $3.570 million, and $1.194 million, and owned by Sequoyah Properties Limited, and Schillenburg LLC.
The deponent also stated that the payment for the Penthouse 22, Block B, 8, Gerrard road, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 21, Building 5,Block C, 11 floor, Plot1, Zone N, FGN layout, Banana Island, Ikoyi, were made by Mrs Angela Jide-Jones, and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, respectively.
The deponent further stated that the said Mrs. Angela Jide-Jones, is the wife of Jide Omokore, while the said Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, is registered and promoted by Jide Omokore.
The deponent also stated that Jide Omokore paid for the properties through his wife, Angela, and one of his companies, and directed the developers (seller) of the properties to sign the agreements with Schillenburg LLC and Sequoyah Properties Limited, both of which are linked to Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The deponent also stated that Schillenburg LLC was registered in Hongkong, and transferred on March 30, 2012, to Donald Chidi Amamgbo as sole owner, while Sequoyah Properties Limited, was registered in Nigeria, on October 11, 2011, with fictitious names of Chukwudima Nwako and Olisa Eloka, as shareholders and directors. Adding that Donald Chidi Amamgbo stated in his extra judicial statement that he incorporated Schillenburg LLC and submitted same to Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke for a transaction.
Justice Olatoregun, after listening to the submissions of the EFCC lawyer, granted the application and ordered that the two properties be temporary forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria, and also prohibited any disposal, conveyance mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or the said properties.
The judge, however, declined to grant the order authorising the anti-graft agency to appoint a competent person(s) or firm to manage the said two properties.
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