TheNewsGuru

Tag: Diezani

  • Court orders forfeiture of Diezani’s $37.5m Banana Island house, funds

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the temporary forfeiture of a property at Banana Island, Lagos bought for $37.5m in 2013 by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    The property, designated as Building 3, Block B, Bella Vista Plot 1, Zone N, Federal Government Layout, Banana Island Foreshore Estate, has 24 apartments, 18 flats and six penthouses, according to court papers presented on Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    Apart from the property, the court also ordered the temporary forfeiture of the sums of $2,740,197.96 and N84,537,840.70, said to be part of the rent collected on the property.

    The funds were said to have been found in a Zenith Bank account numbered 1013612486.

    Justice Chuka Obiozor ordered the temporary forfeiture orders on Wednesday, following an ex parte application to that effect brought before him by a counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Anselem Ozioko.

    Ozioko had told the judge that the EFCC reasonably suspected that the property was acquired with proceeds of alleged unlawful activities of Diezani.

    The lawyer said investigation by the EFCC revealed that Diezani made the $37.5m payment for the purchase of the property in cash, adding that the money was moved straight from her house in Abuja and paid into the seller’s First Bank account in Abuja.

    “Nothing could be more suspicious than someone keeping such huge amounts in her apartment. Why was she doing that? To avoid attention.

    “We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt because as of the time this happened, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was still in public service as the Minister of Petroleum Resources,” Ozioko told Justice Obiozor.

    The ex parte application taken before the judge was filed pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006 and Section 44(2)(k) of the constitution.

    Listed as respondents in the application were Diezani, a legal practitioner, Afamefuna Nwokedi, and a company, Rusimpex Limited.

    After listening to the EFCC lawyer, Ozioko on Wednesday, Justice Obiozor made an order temporarily seizing the property and the funds.

    He directed that the order should be published in a national newspaper.

    He adjourned till August 7, 2017 for anyone interested in the property and funds to appear before him.

  • EFCC ready to testify against Diezani, prepares for repatriation of $1.6BN

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded plans to testify against a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, as well as Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore in the United States and United Kingdom.

    The agency is preparing to repatriate part of the $1.6bn allegedly stolen by Alison-Madueke, Aluko and Omokore.

    Recall that TheNewsGuru.com had earlier reported that the former minister was indicted for receiving a bribe in order to award contracts worth $1.5 billion.

    It was also gathered that the agency has been sending court testimonies to the US and the UK, as well as sworn affidavits deposed to by key witnesses against the three primary suspects.

    Omokore, Aluko and four others are standing trial before a Federal High Court on nine counts of criminal diversion of about $1.6bn alleged to be proceeds of the sale of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

    A source at the anti-graft agency told Punch that, “We have sent evidence to the UK and the US on this case. The investigation involves many countries because these guys bought properties on different continents.

    “We also update them as the case in court continues to unfold. We will be willing to testify if need be. This was how we assisted the UK in the James Ibori case. We will continue to work together.”

    Aluko has continued to elude both local and foreign authorities for over a year and was last seen in Porza-Lugano, Switzerland, in 2016.

    Omokore and Aluko were accused of creating two shell companies in the British Virgin Islands — Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria and Atlantic Energy Brass Development — to handle their oil contracts.

    They were reportedly given oil contracts by Alison-Madueke, even though their companies did not meet requirements.

  • N16 billion New York apartment belonging to Diezani’s ally, Kola Aluko to auctioned

    Nigerian energy businessman Kola Aluko, declared wanted by the EFCC, has been identified as the owner of Apartment 79, a penthouse apartment in One57, one of New York City’s most expensive residential buildings.

    However, the apartment would be sold to the highest bidder by a Luxembourg based Banque Havilland, in a foreclosure auction in July, the New York Post reported.

    The penthouse sale is seen as the most expensive foreclosure in New York City.

    Aluko, 48, is believed to be hiding out on his yacht, which he rented to Jay Z and Beyoncé in 2015 for $900,000 a week.

    The energy businessman, a friend of stars such as Jay Z and Jamie Foxx, has not been seen for a while, which has sparked rumours that he is hiding away on his yacht, which was last registered in the Bahamas in May.

    Mr. Aluko was reportedly last seen in Hong Kong in May and his yacht is currently in the Bahamas, according to the report.

    His bank has also listed the yacht, the Galactica Star, as collateral in the foreclosure, but the yacht is ‘out of range’ at the moment.

    Mr. Aluko rented the Galactica Star to Jay Z and Beyoncé in 2015 for $900,000 a week and allegedly showed up at the Ja Rule Fyre Festival in the Bahamas in late April with his yacht.

    The businessman is also close friends with Leonardo DiCaprio and made a large donation to DiCaprio’s environmental charity as well as attended the actor’s birthday party in New York City in 2013.

    The energy tycoon sold a 2.4-acre estate in Montecito, California, to Gwyneth Paltrow for an undermarket $4.9 million.

    In 2012, he bought an 11,478-square-foot house in Bel Air for $24.5 million, then sold the property in 2016 for $21.5 million.

    He also owns a home in Beverly Hills that was also purchased in 2012 for $14.7 million.

    Mr. Aluko is also avoiding Nigerian authorities who tried to freeze his asset in February as part of a money-laundering probe that also involves ex-Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, an ally of Mr. Aluko.

    Apartment 79 was sold to a Aluko in December 2014 for $50.9 million, making it the eighth most expensive unit in the building, according to New York City property records.

    Less than a year later however, he took out a $35.5 million mortgage from Banque Havilland in Luxembourg to help pay for the apartment.

    When Mr. Aluko failed to pay the loan back a year later, the bank took possession of the 6,420-square-foot apartment, according to court documents.

    Now the bank is planning to auction off the four-bedroom apartment on July 19 to regain the mortgage plus interest.

    “It’s probably the most-expensive foreclosure we’ve ever seen in luxury development. I don’t know of a foreclosure that’s larger than that,” Donna Olshan, president of high-end Manhattan brokerage Olshan Realty Inc., told newsmen.

    One57 was built by Extell Development Co. and was the tallest residential building in Manhattan until 432 Park Ave was completed a few months later.

    Construction started on the building in 2009 and finished in 2014, creating a trend of similar ultra-luxury high-rises on 57th street, which has now been coined ‘Billionaire’s Row’.

    Amenities in the building include a 24-hour doorman and concierge, fitness centre, yoga studio, private dining room, catering kitchen, library, valet service and on-site parking.

    (NAN)

     

  • N23bn Diezani bribe: EFCC arraigns Jonathan’s ex-FCT minister, Akinjide, today

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will on Thursday (today) arraign a former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, for allegedly receiving N650m from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the countdown to the 2015 general election.

    The money was said to be part of the $115m (N23bn as of 2015) allegedly disbursed by Diezani, part of which was allegedly used in bribing some senior officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    The money was said to be part of kickbacks received from oil firms.

    The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said Akinjide, who was the Oyo State Coordinator of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, would be arraigned on 24 counts of Money Laundering before Justice Ayo Emmanuel of a Federal High Court, Ibadan.

    According to the charge sheet with Suit No: FHC/1B/26C/2017, the former minister, along with the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Mr Yinka Taiwo, and others now at large, on or about March 27, 2015 within the jurisdiction of the court, did conspire among yourselves to directly ‘take possession of the sum of N650,000,000 which you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: money laundering, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

    She is also accused of violating sections 1(a), 16(d), 15(2)(d) and18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

    The EFCC said Akinjide and others conspired to make cash payments exceeding the amount authorised by law without going through any financial institution.

    The prosecution said they were liable to be punished under sections 15(3)(4) and 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

    Akinjide first visited the EFCC in August last year where she was made to refund about N10m.

    The former minister was said to have applied for bail on the grounds that she needed to travel out of the country for medical attention.

    A member of the House of Representatives, Aliyu Pategi, stood surety for her but was arrested when Akinjide refused to make herself available as promised.

     

  • Army, DSS, police, others indicted in Diezani’s $115m bribery case — Witness

    The Economic and Financial Commission yesterday named some of the individuals and public officials who collected from an alleged bribe of $115m doled out by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, to compromise the 2015 general elections.

    Sourced by TheNewsGuru.com, the document the anti-graft agency made available before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday, it stated that the Resident Assistant Inspector-General of Police in Kwara State at the time received N1m cash.

    The document stated that while the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State at the time received N10m cash, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations got N2m cash.

    Similarly, both the Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of operations and administration in Kwara State, according to the document, received N1m cash each.

    The document also showed that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kwara State for the 2015 general elections was also given a cash of N10m, while the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Administrative Secretary in Kwara State at the time received N5m cash.

    The INEC Head of Department, Operations and “his boys” were given N5m, while “other officers” received and shared N2m among themselves.

    Also listed as beneficiaries of the Diezani bribe in Kwara State were OC Mopol and “his men”, who got N7m; 21c Mopol and men in the state, who got N10m; the Director of the DSS and his men, who got N2.5m.

    The military in Kwara State was bribed with N50m, according to the document, while other security agencies including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Corps got N20m.

    An investigator with the EFCC, Usman Zakari, who brought the document to court on Thursday, told Justice Rilwan Aikawa that it was recovered from a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Belgore.

    Belgore is standing trial before Justice Aikawa for allegedly collecting N450m from Diezani and distributing same to beneficiaries in Kwara State.

    The EFCC accused him of handling the money in cash without going through any financial institution, an act said to be an offence under sections 1(a), 16(d), 15(2)(d) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

    The EFCC said Belgore is liable to be punished under sections 15(3)(4), and 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

    Standing trial along with Belgore for the offence is a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.

    The SAN and the don were arraigned on charges of money laundering on February 8, 2017 but they pleaded not guilty.

    Zakari is the second witness to be called by the EFCC in its efforts to prove its case.

    Testifying before Justice Aikawa on Thursday, Zakari explained that Belgore volunteered the list to the EFCC when he was invited and interrogated by the anti-graft agency.

    The investigator pointed out to the court Belgore’s endorsement on the document titled, “Security and Transportation per State,” stating: “document supplied by me, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN).”

    Equally, the EFCC exhibited another document recovered from Belgore also showing other beneficiaries.

    The document simply titled “Kwara State” showed beneficiaries of a sum of N155,220,000 and the breakdown of what they got.

    Among them were 15 electoral officers who each received, 250,000; 15 supervisors, who got N100,000 each; the state Returning Officer, who got N1m, among others.

    The two documents were tendered by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, and admitted in evidence as Exhibit 7 and 7A, against Belgore and Suleiman, as their lawyers, Mr. Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Mr. Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN), raised no objection.

    In his evidence, Zakari told the court that the EFCC’s findings showed that the money was disbursed in cash to the beneficiaries.

    “My Lord, the mode of payment, as contained in Exhibit 7, is cash payment. The payments were not done through any financial institution,” Zakari said.

    The case was adjourned till July 7.

  • Alleged $115m bribery: EFCC names Diezani’s abetting oil marketers

    Alleged $115m bribery: EFCC names Diezani’s abetting oil marketers

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday named three oil marketing companies which allegedly aided a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to distribute an alleged bribe of $115m to compromise the 2015 general election.

    An investigator with the anti-graft agency, Usman Zikari, who appeared as a witness before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, claimed that three oil companies were used as conduits by the former minister, The Punch reports.

    According to him, the oil marketing companies – Auctus Investment Ltd., Northern Belt Gas and Mid-Western Oil and Gas – along with one Leonor Olaitan, were used by Diezani to lodge $89m out of the $115m in the bank.

    Zikari testified on Wednesday in the case of Dele Belgore (SAN) and a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, who were charged with laundering N450m.

    The SAN and the ex-minister were arraigned by the EFCC before Justice Rilwan Aikawa.

    Led in evidence on Wednesday by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, Zikari narrated how Belgore and Suleiman allegedly received N450m from the $115m Diezani bribe.

    The prosecution showed the court the document allegedly signed by Belgore and Suleiman showing that they collected the N450m.

    The witness added that an unknown aide to the former minister also took $25, 776,000 to the bank.

    He said in the course of investigation the managing director of the bank was invited by the EFCC and interrogated.

    The witness said, “During the interview with the MD, it was revealed that in December of 2014, the MD had a meeting with Mrs. Diezani, where she told him that an individual would be bringing money. That he should keep the money, when the money was complete she would give him further instructions.”

    The witness claimed that the money was brought in as promised and further instructions to convert the sum and distribute same was given via the email address of Diezani’s son, Ogbonna.

    He also showed the court the printed copy of the email exchanged between the MD and Ogbonna.

    Justice Aikawa adjourned further proceedings in the case till June 15, 2017.

  • We’ll spend loots recovered from Diezani, Yakubu to feed the poor – FG

    The Federal Government has said it will spend loots recently recovered from former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke and former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Andrew Yakubu on its social intervention programmes.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that a Lagos Federal High Court, on Thursday ordered the forfeiture of of about N34bn linked to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    TheNewsGuru.com also reports that a Federal High Court sitting in Kano presided over by Justice Zainab B. Abubakar on last Tuesday ordered the forfeiture of the sum of $9,772,00 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars ) and £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) recovered from Yakubu to the Federal Government.

    According to a report by The Punch, a top government official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the $9m recovered from Yakubu and the $153m forfeited Diezani, would be immediately used to fund the welfare scheme for the poor.

    The official said the money would be used in paying the N30,000 monthly stipend to beneficiaries of the N-Power scheme, the job creation programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration; as well as the school feeding programme.

    In the official’s words: “The National Economic Forum has been meeting and we are looking at the idea of investing the recovered funds on the social intervention programme which will gulp hundreds of billions of naira.”

    The Federal Government is also on a mission to recover at least N399bn and $6.62bn in cash and assets from the high profile cases being prosecuted across the country.

    Documents made available from the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption showed that at least 45 high-profile corruption cases had been taken to court.

    The cases stated in the document exclude the $153m recently forfeited to the Federal Government by Alison-Madueke; the $9m case involving Yakubu; the prosecution of a former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Emeka Mba (N2.8bn); as well as all retired military officials (N40bn).

    Some of the high-profile cases stated in the document include an alleged N36bn case involving a former Governor of Jigawa State, Saminu Turaki; a fraud case involving a former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje (N25bn), and a former Governor of Nasarawa State, Aliyu Doma.

    Other prominent cases listed include the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, Jide Omokore, who is standing trial for an alleged $1.6bn fraud; a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is standing trial before two different courts for alleged N1.6bn fraud and N754.7bn fraud.

    The committee also listed the case of the President, NLNG Staff Bonny Co-op Investment and Credit Society Limited, Julius Peters, who is being tried for an alleged N207bn fraud.

    The committee defined high-profile cases as cases in which any of the suspects is “a politician, public officer or judicial officer; a person elected or nominated to a public office or position and where the subject matter of the case involves government property or funds.”

  • EFCC locates Diezani’s $37m Lagos mansion

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has located a $37.5m luxury high-rise building on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, allegedly belonging to the embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Recall that TheNewsGuru.com yesterday published that the commission also discovered $9.3m and £74,000 belonging to a former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Andrew Yakubu. The money was allegedly kept in a bungalow situated in the slums of Kaduna.

    EFCC said on Friday that Yakubu reported to the commission’s zonal office in Kano and made the statement claiming the money was gift from unnamed persons.

    The two discoveries were made as part of investigations into a string of fraudulent activities in the NNPC, which cost the nation over $20bn at a time the oil price stood at about $100 per barrel on the average

    According to impeccable sources within the EFCC, the building allegedly belonging to Diezani was purchased between 2011 and 2012. It is situated in the same estate where Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, resides.

    A source at the EFCC said, “The aggressive drive by the EFCC to recover all hidden assets of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is under investigation for corruption and money laundering, produced another breakthrough this week with the discovery of a property acquired through shell companies by the former minister at upscale Banana Island in Lagos.

    “The property is a 15-storey edifice comprising 18 flats and six penthouses.

    “The property was acquired by the former minister between 2011 and 2012 at a total cost of $37.5m from the developers, YF Construction Development and Real Estate.

    The property was allegedly acquired in the name of a shell company, Rusimpex Limited under the control of certain Mr. Afamefuna Nwokedi of Stillwaters law firm, in Lagos.”

    Last year, the commission seized an $18m mansion in the Asokoro area of Abuja allegedly belonging to the ex-minister.

    She has, however, denied all the allegations levelled against her.

    Meanwhile, the commission has recovered $9.7m and £74,000 from a former GMD of the NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu.

    Ironically, Yakubu, who served as the head of the corporation between 2012 and 2014, is the key witness of the EFCC against the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, Jide Omokore, who is standing trial for an alleged $1.6bn fraud.

    The EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that the money was found in a safe hidden in a slum in Kaduna State.

    The statement read in part, “A special operation conducted by operatives of the EFCC on February 3, 2017 on a building belonging to a former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Andrew Yakubu, in Kaduna yielded the recovery of a staggering sum of $9,772,800 and another sum of £74,000 in cash.

    “The huge cash was hidden in a fire-proof safe. The surprise raid of the facility was sequel to an intelligence which the commission received about suspected proceeds of crime believed to be hidden in the slums of Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna.

    “On arrival at the house, the caretaker of the house, one Bitrus Yakubu, a younger brother to Andrew Yakubu, disclosed that both the house and the safe where the money was found belong to his brother, Andrew Yakubu.

    “When the safe was opened it was discovered that it contained the sum of $9,772,800 and another sum of £74,000.

    “On February 8, 2017, Andrew Yakubu reported to the commission’s Zonal office in Kano and made statement wherein he admitted ownership of the recovered money, claiming it was gift from unnamed persons. He is currently assisting the investigation.”

  • Court fixes Feb. 16 for judgment on Diezani’s forfeiture of $153million to FG

    A Federal High Court Lagos, on Tuesday, fixed Feb. 16 to deliver judgment in a suit by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking forfeiture of funds linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke.

    Justice Muslim Hassan fixed the date after hearing arguments from counsels representing parties in the suit.

    TheNewsGuru.com Justice Hassan had on Jan. 6, issued an interim order of forfeiture of the sum of 153.3 million dollars to the Federal Government, following an exparte application by EFCC seeking similar relief.

    The EFCC had initiated the exparte application seeking an interim order, for the temporary forfeiture to the Federal Government of the sum, which it claims is linked to Diezani.

    The court had also issued 14 days to any interested party to appear and prove the legitimacy of the monies, failing which the funds would be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Mr Charles Adeogun announced appearance for Lawal, who is joined as respondent in the suit.

    On the other hand, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo announced appearance for the EFCC.

    Oyedepo informed the court that in line with its interim orders of Jan. 6, the EFCC had served same on Lawal.

    He also informed the court that the order was also published in the Independence Newspaper of Jan. 12, in compliance with the orders of the court.

    In response, counsel to Lawal, (Adeogun) confirmed the position, and added that he had filed a counter affidavit deposed to by Lawal, challenging the said forfeiture orders.

    Arguing his application, he urged the court to issue an order, directing a refund of the sum of N9.08billion to his client on the grounds that same was obtained by coercion.

    He argued that before such forfeiture orders could be made, two essential elements must be satisfied namely: “that the property in question is unclaimed, and that such property or funds forms proceeds of an unlawful act.’’

    He said: “We became aware of the forfeiture order when the interim order was served on us; My client was never confronted with these sets of facts during his incarceration at the EFCC.

    “After service of the orders, I requested for the statement of my client to the commission, but same was never given to me,” he said.

    He argued that his client admitted having received the sum of 25 million dollars in clear dispensation of his duties, but was coerced by the commission to further admit receiving a total of 65 million dollars.

    According to him, the sum of 40 million dollars was therefore, taken as an overdraft from his bank to offset the alleged extra sum.

    He therefore urged the court to order the immediate refund of the sum to his client.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that in his reply, Oyedepo submitted that the tenure of Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offence Act made a property, which is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime forfeitable to the Federal Government.

    “Going by the facts and circumstances of this particular case, can it be said that the sum of N9.08 billion which is the naira equivalent of 40 million dollars was not reasonably suspected to form proceeds of a crime,” he queried.

    He argued that Paragraph 4 of the applicant’s reply affidavit shows a meeting of the minds of some staff of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the respondent to launder funds.

    “My lord, Paragraph 4 of our reply affidavit shows a meeting of the minds of one Gbenga Komolafe, former group Managing Director, Crude Oil Marketing Division NNPC, Prince Haruna Momoh, former group Managing Director, Petroleum Product Marketing Company, Umar Farouk Ahmed, Group Managing Director, Nigerian Product Marketing Company and Dauda Lawal, to launder funds on behalf of former petroleum minister, Diezani Allison Madueke.

    “It will amount to contesting the obvious for Lawal to argue that he had no knowledge of the said sums,’’ he said.

    Oyedepo argued that it was uncommon for a law enforcement agency like the EFCC to detain a person in its custody in perpetuity without an order of the court, adding that the statement of Lawal was lawfully obtained.

    “The respondent was duly cautioned before he voluntarily made his statement at the commission, and his lawyer even appended, his signature further attesting to the fact that the statements were obtained voluntarily.

    “So having freely volunteered a statement, he cannot urge my lord not to attach full probative value to his statement.

    “I submit that the appropriate order in the circumstance is for the court to order a final forfeiture of the sum of N9.08 billion already surrendered by the respondent, to the Federal Government.

    He also urged the court to order the forfeiture of other sums to which no claim had been laid.

    “I urge the court to so hold,” he said.

    After listening to the submission of counsels, Justice Hassan fixed Feb. 16 for judgment.

  • I didn’t steal Nigeria’s money – Diezani

    Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke has refuted the claim that she recently refunded the sum of $153.3m, purportedly stolen from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The former minister who also reacted to other allegations leveled against her office while working with former President Goodluck Jonathan said the EFCC falsely attributed ownership of the said stolen funds to her person saying, “I have not and will never steal money from or defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria

    Her words, “am deeply disturbed and bewildered by recent media reports (Premium Times Thursday 12 January, 2017 and other dailies about the same time) claiming that by virtue of an order of the Federal High Court, I have forfeited to the Federal Government, the sum of $153.3m which I purportedly stole from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

    First and foremost, whilst the reasons for my being out of the country are public knowledge, the principle of fair hearing demands that I should have been notified of formal charges if truly there was a prima facie evidence or indictment against my person linking me with the said issue, so as to ensure that I had adequate legal representation. This was never done.

    I wish to state that I cannot forfeit what was never mine. I do not know the basis on which the EFCC have chosen to say that I am the owner of these funds as no evidence was provided to me before the order was obtained and they have not in fact served me with the order or, any evidence since they obtained it.

    “As at the time of my writing this rebuttal (Thursday 19th January, 2017) the EFCC have still not furnished me or my Lawyers, with a copy of the order.

    “I am also informed by my lawyers that the legislation under which the EFCC obtained this order is for situations where the funds are believed to be the proceeds of crime and the owner is not known.

    “I do not therefore, understand how the EFCC can in the same breath say that the monies in question are mine. If they had evidence that the monies were mine then they would not /should not, have used the procedure which applies only to funds of unknown ownership.

    “If indeed they used this particular legal procedure because they did not know who owned the monies, then how can they now be falsely attributing the ownership to me(Annex-1A).

    “Let me re-state categorically as I have always maintained, for the record, I have NOT and WILL NEVER Steal Money from OR DEFRAUD the Federal Government of Nigeria. I am willing to respond to any charges brought against me that follow duly laid down procedures.

    “However, in their typical manner and style, the EFCC have gone to the media to attempt to prosecute their case as trial by TV and other media, rather than go through the onerous but tried and tested means of the Judicial Court process.

    ” In the face of the obvious falsification of facts and misinformation, it is only right and proper that the EFCC should publish the details of the $153.3M lodgements, the bank account numbers and the account beneficiaries, showing proof of my link to them.

    “Having also alleged that the said $153.3M was ‘wired’ from NNPC, the EFCC should also publish details of the NNPC accounts from where the said $153.3 million was taken from, with proof that I authorized such a transaction/transactions acting either in my private capacity or, as The Honourable Minister of Petroleum.

    Let me state for the record that as Minister of Petroleum, the operation and management of NNPC finances were outside my purview as outlined in both the Petroleum Act and the NNPC Act. The only involvement I had in NNPC Finances was in terms of statutory matters, where the Petroleum Act prescribed that as Minister, there were certain duties or actions which I had to perform or take in relation to NNPC.

    Read more of Diezani’s reactions on other allegations