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  • Court orders forfeiture of Diezani’s N325.4m land

    A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government a parcel of land in Lekki, Lagos State, linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Justice Babs Kuewumi made the order following an ex-parte application by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr. Anslem Ozioko.

    Joined as defendants in the ex-parte applications were Diezani, one Mr. Donald Amamgbo and a firm, Mez Group LLC.

    The land, valued at N325.4 million, is designated as Plot 13, Block II, Oniru Chieftaincy Private Family Estate.

    Ozioko told the judge that the land was suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of crime.

    Justice Kuewumi also directed the anti-graft agency to publish the temporary forfeiture order in a national daily to put interested parties on notice.

    He adjourned till July 14, for anyone interested in the property to appear before him to show cause why the land should not be permanently forfeited.

    The EFCC is seeking an order of the court to appoint “a competent person(s) or firm to manage the assets/property named and described in the schedule to this application”.

    An EFCC investigator, Abdulrasheed Bawa, said the anti-graft agency stumbled on the documents of the land sometime in 2016 while executing a search on the office of Amamgbo, an ally of the ex-petroleum minister.

    Bawa said the anti-graft agency also recovered from Amamgbo’s office an undated report titled, “Highly Confidential Attorney Work Product August Report,” among others.

    He added: “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 Chidi Amamgbo told us that he registered the 18 companies to assist Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke in holding titles of her properties and that all the properties belong to her.”

     

     

     

  • ‎Diezani loot: Court remands Shagari, Wali, others in police custody

    A Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto on Tuesday remanded the former deputy Governor of the state, Barrister Mukhtari Shehu Shagari, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governorship candidate in 2015 general elections, Senator Abdallah Wali and three others in police custody till May 24 when their bail applications would be heard.

    They are standing trial for allegedly accepting part of proceeds from former Petroleum Minister Diezani Madueke  which contravenes the money laundry Act of 2011 as amended.

    The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) instituted five count charge against them dated 4th, May, 2018.

    Also listed  as defendants are :Alhaji Nasiru Dalhatu Bafarawa and younger brother of the former Governor Atahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa,  the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma and the former Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Gidado.

    According to the charge order,  Gidado (1st defendant),  Shagari (2nd) and Milgoma (4th) had in March 2015 conspired to accept N500 million from one Abdulrahman Ibrahim without transacting same through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act,2011 as amended which is punishable under section 16(2) (b) of the same act.

    It added that Gidado had accepted cash payment of N500 million and eight million respectively from one Abdulrahman Ibrahim and PDP in the state contrary to section 1(a) of the money laundering act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 16(2) (b) of the same act.

    Read Also: Diezani: $40million was conveyed in cash to a bank chief

    It further stated that Shagari, Dalhatu and Wali had in March, 2015 conspired and took possession of the sum of N500 million which formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of Diezani Alison Madueke as gratification and as such committed an offence contrary to section 18 (a) of the money laundering (prohibition) act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15(3) of the same act among other charge.

    When the charges were read to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty  and  EFCC counsel  Barrister John Ojogbane prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable him present his witnesses and the defendant be remanded till the adjourned date.

    However, counsel to the  1st, 3rd and 4th defendants, Barrister Ibrahim Abdullahi opposed to the second application as according to him, prior to their arraignment, they had been on administrative bail granted to them by the EFCC since 2016.

    “And in the verifying affidavits before this court. It shows that investigation had been concluded and while on administrative bail they had been cooperative with EFCC till date,” he said

    Abdullahi added that the 3rd defendant has instrumental spinal surgery which he has been battling with.

    He urged the court to take decision notice of exibits a,b and c annex to the application of bail of the 3rd  defendant which has shown he should be placed on straight bed rest and grant them bail.

    Similarly, counsels to the 2nd and 5th defendants, Barrister Ibrahim Idris and Barrister Aiyelabegan Abdulkadri while aligning themselves with the bail application, urged the court to uphold the administrative bail earlier granted the defendants by the EFCC.

    Responding, Ojogbane urged the court to ignore their applications as  the administrative bail had expired since the time the defendants were served with the charges.

    He added that they received their applications by 6pm on Monday and they need two days to formerly respond to them.

    The Presiding Judge, Justice Saleh Idrissa adjourned the case till May, 24 for the hearing of bail applications and remanded the defendant into police custody.

  • 2015 election: ‘Diezani collected N23bn from three oil marketers’

    2015 election: ‘Diezani collected N23bn from three oil marketers’

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard that a former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke allegedly collected N23billion ($115.01million) from three oil marketers ahead of the 2015 general election.

    An investigator, Usman Zakari, said she allegedly distributed the money to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chiefs and others.

    Zakari was testifying before Justice Muslim Hassan in the trial of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide.

    She was charged along with former Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Ayo Adeseun; a PDP leader in Oyo State, Chief Olarenwaju Otiti and Mrs Alison-Madueke, who is said to be at large.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused them of conspiring to directly take possession of N650million, which they reasonably ought to have known was part of proceeds of an unlawful act, and without going through a financial institution.

    Zakari, the second prosecution witness, said Akinjide and others allegedly received N650million cash in March 2015 at the Dugbe branch of a bank in Ibadan on Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s instructions, and that the money was part of N23billion which the former oil minister kept in the bank.

    According to the witness, the N23billion was the naira equivalent of $115.01million which Mrs Alison-Madueke allegedly collected from three oil marketers, including Lano Adesanya, ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, Zakari said the commission received a “Category A intelligence” about a meeting at Mrs Alison-Madueke’s house in December 2014 with the bank’s Managing Director and some oil marketers.

    According to Zakari, she told the bank chief that the oil marketers would bring hard currencies to the bank, and that he should keep the money until further directives.

    The witness said Autus Integrated Limited took $17.8million to the bank; Northern Belt Oil and Gas lodged $60million; while Mid-Western Oil Services Limited paid $9.5million.

    “An individual, Lano Adesanya, brought the sum of $1.8million. Our findings further revealed that the three oil marketers made payment of the sum of $89million and some fractions.

    “Investigations further revealed that the then petroleum minister’s aides made available $25million and some fractions in suitcases…,” the witness said.

    Zakari said Mrs Alison-Madueke directed the bank to convert the dollars to naira, which was complied with, after which she allegedly directed that the defendants be paid.

    “They signed for the money and took it to the residence of the first defendant (Akinjide). The defendants made cash payment of N650million without going through any financial institution, an amount which was more than the amount authorised by law to be paid in cash,” Zakari said.

    He said Akinjide and Adeseun “admitted making cash payments in that amount.”

    Defence counsel Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) and Michael Lana urged the court to expunge Zakari’s evidence because he did not personally witness the meeting at Mrs Alison-Madueke’s house or the cash withdrawal at the bank.

    But, Oyedepo argued that Zakari’s evidence was not hearsay but was based on his investigative findings.

    “In view of the fact that the evidence that PW2 gave was the discovery he made in the course of his investigation, the law is settled that such evidence cannot amount to hearsay,” Oyedep said.

    Justice Hassan adjourned till March 23.

  • Diezani forefeits $4.760m penthouses

    Diezani forefeits $4.760m penthouses

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the final forfeiture of two penthouses valued at $4.760m belonging to former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    They are: Penthouse 21, Building 5, Block C, 11th floor (Bella Vista Estate) Banana Island, Ikoyi; and Penthouse 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate), also in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Ruling on an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), JJustice Mojisola Olatoregun ordered that they be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The commission’s lawyer, Mr ABC Ozioko, told the court that he had a motion on notice for a final forfeiture order in respect of the properties.

    He added that the interim forfeiture order made last December 5 was advertised in The Nation  as ordered by the court.

    He also prayed for an order prohibiting the disposal of any mortgage or sale of the properties, and for an order authorising the EFCC to appoint a competent person or firm to manage the properties.

    Respondents’ counsel Mr Emmanuel Bassey did not object to the prayers.

    Justice Olatoregun granted the orders as prayed.

    She said: “I have observed the facts and exhibits attached and I am also mindful that the second, third and fourth respondents have no objections to the application.

    “I, therefore, have no hesitation in ordering a final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.”

    Mrs Alison-Madueke, Donald Amangbo, Schillenburg LLC and Sequoyah Property Limited are the respondents.

    The commission said the companies in whose names the properties were acquired belong to the former minister.

    An EFCC investigator, Abdulrasheed Bawa, in an affidavit, said sometime in 2016, a search warrant was executed at Amangbo’s premises.

    He said Amangbo was “an acquaintance of former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Alison Madueke”.

    The investigator said one of the documents recovered from Amamgbo led the operatives to the Deputy Managing Director, YF Construction Development and Real Estate Limited, Mr. Fadi Basbous.

    The deponent said Basbous made a statement where he stated that the two properties were sold at $3.570million and $1.194million and are owned by Sequoyah Properties Limited and Schillenburg LLC.

    Bawa said the properties were paid for by Mrs Angela Jide-Jones and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited.

    According to him, Mrs  Jide-Jone was married to Mrs Alison-Madueke’s associate, Jide Omokore, who registered and promoted Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept.

    The EFCC investigator said Omokore paid for the properties through his wife, Angela.

    According to the operative, Omokore allegedly directed the developer (seller) to sign the agreements with Schillenburg LLC and Sequoyah Properties.

    The deponent said Schillenburg LLC was registered in Hong Kong and was transferred on March 30, 2012, to Amamgbo as sole owner.

    Amamgbo, according to EFCC, incorporated Schillenburg LLC and handed it over to Mrs. Alison-Madueke “for a transaction”.

    The deponent added that Sequoyah Properties “is among 18 companies registered by Donald Chid Amangbo for holding the properties of Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke”.

  • $1.3b NNPC cash: I acted on Jonathan’s instructions, says Diezani

    $1.3b NNPC cash: I acted on Jonathan’s instructions, says Diezani

    Former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke yesterday said she acted on the instructions of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in directing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to release $1.3billion to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    She said it was not within the power or discretion of any minister to question or disregard the written directive of a president.

    The ex-minister made the clarifications through a statement by her Media Adviser, Mr. Clem Aguiyi, against the backdrop of the ongoing probe of the withdrawal of $1.3billion from the accounts of NNPC to fight kidnapping and other security threats in the Niger Delta.

    Although about $1.4billion was requested by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) via three memos, for “Intervention for Urgent National Security Projects”, about $1.3billion was released from NNPC’s accounts.

    But it was unclear what became of the $100million balance as at press time.

    ONSA requested for $1.4billion between March 27, 2014 and May 5, 2014 when approval was given and cash-backed.

    Three memos were sent to Dr. Jonathan on March 27, 2014, 31st March 2014 and May 5, 2014.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke stressed that she could not be held liable for carrying out a presidential directive.

    The statement said: “The attention of Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum, has been drawn to a story in The Nation Newspaper of Monday 22nd January, 2018 as well as other print and online media titled “Diezani in trouble again over withdrawal of $1.3b from NNPC accounts”.

    “Under Section 5 of the Constitution, all executive powers are vested in the President who may exercise it directly or through the Vice President or Ministers of the Federation. As Minister for Petroleum Resources Mrs. Alison-Madueke was an appointee and delegate of the President.

    “Consequently, the Minister of Petroleum Resources acted on the basis of the written approvals and directives given by the President, which approvals were given after written requests from the relevant security agencies were made to the President.

    “At such instances, as in fact the article clearly shows, a Service Chief or Intelligence Chief makes a written request/appeal to Mr. President, outlining whatever urgent and critical security needs of the nation they consider imminently paramount, at any given point in time.

    “If such a request received the approval of the President, the President may direct that the requested funds be drawn from a Security Budget maintained by NNPC, or that the funds be sourced from elsewhere.

    “Where the President directs the Minister of Petroleum Resources, in writing, to make the payment from the NNPC, the Minister, in turn, directs the GMD NNPC in writing to execute the directive of the President. NNPC then wires the funds from one of its major foreign bank accounts, or from the CBN, directly to the stipulated account of the particular branch of the armed services, or intelligence unit, or department, that initiated the request.

    “It is not within the power or discretion of any serving minister to question or disregard the written directive of a president including that of the incumbent President”

    The former Minister stated that at no time, did she, or could she, as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, interfere with this process.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke said since the disbursement of $1.3billion was traceable, it was wrong to assume that it was diverted.

    “It is, therefore, impossible and implausible, for any monies under such presidential directives to be diverted during the process, at least from the standpoint of the minister.

    “Any and all amounts approved and directed by Mr. President to be paid, were executed exclusively by NNPC, directly from NNPC’s foreign and or, Central Bank of Nigeria accounts, to the stated recipients.

    “Therefore, let it be very clear, that all funds disbursed by these banking institutions on behalf of NNPC are easily and openly traceable, and the process cannot and should not be utilised for the distortion of facts,” the statement said.

  • EFCC amends charge against Diezani, Belgore, Suleiman

    EFCC amends charge against Diezani, Belgore, Suleiman

    •Accuses defendants of paying Kwara REC, CP N10m each

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) has amended the charge filed against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr Dele Belgore and former National Planning Minister Prof Abubakar Suleiman.

    Former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke is also named in the charge. EFCC said she is “at large”.

    Belgore and Suleiman, who were arraigned on February 8, are on trial before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    In the nine-count amended charge, EFCC accused Alison-Madueke, Belgore and Suleiman of making cash payment of N10million to Kwara State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr Emmanuel Onucheyo.

    The commission said they also paid N10million to a Commissioner of Police Garba Saliu.

    According to EFCC, the defendants allegedly made the payments on March 27, 2015 without going through a financial institution.

    The sums, the commission said, exceeded the amount authorised by law and violated Sections 1(a) and 16 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b).

    The defendants were accused of making cash payment of N61,656,000 to Isa Biu on the same day, exceeding what is authorised by law.

    EFCC said they also paid N87,962,000 to Sola Adeoti and Hajiya Dankaka on the same day “without going through a financial institution.”

    The prosecution, as in the previous charge, accused the defendants of violating the Money Laundering Act by dealing in excess cash without going through a financial institution.

    EFCC said they “directly took possession of the sum N450million,” adding that they “reasonably ought to have known [that the money] forms part of the proceeds of unlawful act.”

    It also accused them of “indirectly” using the sum of N450million on March 27, 2015, and of making cash payment of N450million, which exceeded the amount authorised by law.

    According to the commission, Mrs Alison-Madueke, Belgore and Sulieman, on the same day, made cash payment of N50million to one Sheriff Shagaya, an amount in excess of what the law allowed.

    Count one of the charge reads: “That you Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke (still at large), Muhammad Dele Belgore and Prof Abubakar Sulaiman on or about the 27th day of March in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to directly take possession of the sum of N450,000,000, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4) of the same Act.”

    The amended charge is dated November 22 and signed by Rotimi Oyedepo.

    Belgore and Suleiman are expected to be re-arraigned tomorrow.

  • Diezani pushed Jonathan to remove me as minister, says Oduah

    Diezani pushed Jonathan to remove me as minister, says Oduah

    Senator Stella Oduah has alleged that she was removed as Minister of Aviation in 2014 at the prompting of the then Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Oduah’s claim is contained in a book, ‘On a Platter of Gold: How Jonathan Won and Lost Nigeria’, authored by Bolaji Abdullahi, a former minister of sport and youth development in the Jonathan Presidency.

    The book will go on sale after its public presentation on November 30.

    According to The Cable, Oduah said when the scandal broke over the $1.6 million BMW armoured cars bought for her by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in 2013, Jonathan invited her to explain herself.

    According to Abdullahi, at the meeting were Alison-Madueke, who was perceived to be extremely influential on President Goodluck Jonathan and Anyim Pius Anyim, who was the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    The president seemed satisfied with her explanation that there was nothing untoward in the deal.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke also appeared sympathetic and even promised to speak to her friends in the National Assembly and the media “to back down” on the issue.

    “I thought she had my back. I did not know at the time that she was actually fuelling it and orchestrating all the media attacks,” she told Abdullahi.

    “I knew all along that Diezani could not deal with having another female around who had the kind of access I had to the President. But she went too far. She thought I was the one who leaked the issue of private jet  that put her into trouble with the House of Representatives (Diezani was accused of spending N10 billion on chartered jets). For her, it was payback time.”

    Twice, she had offered to resign before her sack but Jonathan asked her not to, according to her, yet the issue did not go away.

    “Diezani was paying people to keep the story alive. At the same time, she was whispering in [the president’s] ears that he had to take action,” Oduah alleged.

    Abdullahi wrote that Mrs. Alison-Madueke asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest Oduah, but the plan was countered by other members of the cabinet.

    A presidential committee headed by Sambo Dasuki, then national security adviser, eventually indicted  Oduah.

    When the president told her that she had to go, Oduah asked: “Did Diezani ask you to sack me?”

    Jonathan answered no, but there and then it was agreed that she should be eased out of government.

    On January 12, 2014, she was removed as minister.

    Abdullahi, the author, was fired as minister of sport in March 2014 by Jonathan allegedly on account of his “godfather”, Bukola Saraki, who had joined other PDP rebels to defect to the APC.

     

  • Diezani: Firm briefs UK, US lawyers

    A leading oil producer, the Aiteo Group, has briefed a London law firm, Mishcon de Reya and Washington-based Covington & Burling.

    It was learnt that the company’s Executive Vice Chairman Benedict Peters directed that the law firms be engaged to address likely politically-motivated issues that may arise from its operations.

    Mishcon de Reya is one of the world’s leading law firms with a particular proficiency in handling contentious international disputes. Covington is renown for navigating complex legal issues at the intersection of law and policy.

    An online report claimed that Peters bought property and luxury furnishings in England for former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke in return  for contracts from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Peters said: “I maintain my position that all the allegations are baseless and without any truth whatsoever. These unfounded allegations have caused untold disruption to my family and my business.

    “To ensure that we remain focused, I have engaged two of the world’s leading law firms to offer both counsel and guidance in dealing with these issues.

    “There is a toxic culture of politically motivated witch-hunts that stains reputations, stifles enterprise and keeps foreign investors away from our country. For two years, I have suffered malicious, unfounded and false allegations hanging over my head.

    “This persecution is being pursued to diminish the visible endeavours to position our business, and Nigeria, at the apex of the energy industry worldwide.

    “ Despite these distractions, I remain focused on the efforts to sustain Aiteo’s growth towards becoming Nigeria’s leading indigenous oil producer. It is time to address the situation and so I have decided that I must take direct legal and other action to clear my name.”

    Peters, in an earlier statement, said the publication contained several false and malicious allegations against him and Aiteo Group and were part of “an orchestrated largescale campaign of calumny which is sponsored and designed to tarnish our image”.

     

  • $1.5b Loot: Fresh facts emerge on Diezani’s Nigeria trial request

    $1.5b Loot: Fresh facts emerge on Diezani’s Nigeria trial request

    •  Ex-minister moves to scale six hurdles
    • London trial set to begin soon
    • Why she prefers to be tried in Nigeria
    •  Associate goes underground

    Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are vowing to resist any attempt by the embattled ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to scuttle her impeding trial in the United Kingdom (UK).

    The ex-minister recently expressed her preference to face trial at home when she pleaded with the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the Federal Government to facilitate her return to Nigeria to face trial.

    She asked for an opportunity to defend allegations against her in a charge filed against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dele Belgore and former National Planning Minister Abubakar Suleiman.

    The prosecution said Mrs. Alison-Madueke allegedly shared $115,010,000 (about N35billion) to individuals in the 36 states ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    However, EFCC officials believe that the ex-minister’s statement is part of a grand delay strategy to escape justice in London.

    The Nation gathered yesterday that the fear of getting the ‘James Ibori treatment’ if tried in the United Kingdom was partly responsible for her call to face trial in Nigeria.

    Other reasons, according to EFCC sources, include the ‘strict nature’ of the British anti-graft law, and the huge cost of hiring a defence team there which could further drain her already depleted  financial resources.

    Ibori, ex-governor of Delta State was jailed by the Southwark Crown Court, London on April 17, 2012 after pleading guilty to ten counts of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.

    He was jailed for 13 years and his assets including three buildings in the UK and South Africa seized.

    Also confiscated from him were a fleet of Range Rovers, a Bently Continental GT and a Mercedes-Benz Maybach 62.

    He was recently released from jail.

    Before Ibori’s London trial, he had been discharged and acquitted of a 107 count charge of corruption by a Federal High Court, Asaba.

    Sources also said the ex-minister is home sick.

    Her trial in London, is expected to commence soon, sources added and EFCC officials are upbeat that the trial will justify the extensive job they did in investigating her.

    They are shocked that she wants to return to Nigeria after the ‘massive’ evidence they sent to the UK for her ‘water-tight’ prosecution.

    “We see her as making moves to frustrate the course of justice after we have hauled a lot of evidence to the United Kingdom,” one source said.

    “If she comes back, she will come up with frivolous applications up to the Supreme Court level to halt her probe. She might take advantage of the law to frustrate investigation and her arraignment in court.

    “Intelligence also revealed that she is already afraid that she might face trial before some conservative judges who may strictly apply the UK law against corruption.

    “So, she is just afraid of the long arm of the law catching up with her.”

    The source said now that the EFCC has seized more than 56 houses from her, she should “face trial in the UK which may further vindicate our findings or otherwise.

    “The report of the US Department of Justice has already proved EFCC right on its investigation.

    “US Department of Justice through its  Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, is already seeking to recover $144m in assets from some associates of Diezani.

    “We want her to face trial abroad in order to recover laundered funds before returning home for further  investigation including the whereabouts of about $15.8 billion NLNG dividends  between 2000 and 2014.”

    An audit report sent to EFCC by the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), doubts whether “the entire $15.8 billion due from 2000 to 2014 is still intact.”

    NEITI added: “The funds were neither paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation nor the Federation.

    “Also, about US$7.85 billion out of the dividends was allegedly withdrawn in 2011 under the guise of funding Brass LNG Project.”

    Another source said:”The UK has spent much of public funds on Diezani’s probe. She needs to spend more on the hiring of counsel.

    “At the end of the day, if the laundered funds and assets are seized, whatever will have been  expended on her probe will be deducted from forfeited assets.

    “She will end up losing part of the looted funds. This is overwhelming her.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “We learnt that Diezani’s trial will soon begin in the UK, we believe she should not jump the gun.”

    As at press time, it was learnt that Mr. Kola Aluko, one of the business associates of the ex-Minister, has gone underground.

    Aluko was implicated in the wiring of the part of the $1.5billion into a bank in Switzerland.

    Sources also said  that Aluko may  have sold most of the 19 choice assets traced to him in some countries.

    The source added: “Detectives have been on the trail of Aluko but he cannot hide for long.”

    A Federal High Court in Lagos had on June 24, 2016 invoked the Interim Forfeiture Order in the EFCC Establishment Act to seize the properties.

    The affected assets are mostly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and the United States.

    They are a plot of land in Mont Tremblant (Canada) and some houses in the United Arab Emirates including 4100 Le Reve Dubai Maria, Dubai; Unit 1402, PS 14th Floor located at Metro TECOM near Internet City Metro Station, Dubai; Unit 712, ES 7th Floor located at First Central, Off Sheikh Zayed, TECOM, Al-Barsha 3 Dubai; and Unit 512, 5th Floor located at First Group Marina Hotels, Al-Seba Street, Plot 394-426, Dubai AE-AJ.

    Those in Switzerland are at Colina D’Oro Montagnola, Switzerland; Via Magio 6 Montagnola 6926 Switzerland; and Vila Floridiana via Cantonale 17, 6948 Porza Lugano, Switzerland

    Others located in the United States and the United Kingdom are 755 Sarbonne Road, Los Angeles, California 90077USA; 952 North Alpine Drive Beverly Hills, California 80210 USA; 157 West 57th Street New York 10028, USA; 1049 Fifth Avenue New York 10028, USA; 815 Cimal Del Mundo Road Santa Barbara, California 93108, USA; 1948 Tollis Avenue Santa Barbara California 93108; 1952 Tollis Avenue Santa Barbara California 93108, USA; 807 Cimal Del Mundo Road Santa Barbara, California 93108, USA; 32 Grove End Road, London NW8 9LI UK; and Flat D.03.01 One Hyde Park 100 Knight Bridge SW1X 7U, UK.

    Capping the list is the €63m Galactica Star which the US Department of Justice in the United States claimed that the ex-Minister had warned Aluko against buying.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami( SAN) penultimate Wednesday told State House correspondents that the return of Diezani to Nigeria for trial might  jeopardize the ongoing investigation in the UK.

    He said: “Steps have been taken by the United Kingdom authorities on issues bordering on corrupt practices involving Nigerians.

    “If Nigeria feels strongly that there is need to bring Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke here to face charges of corruption, government will not hesitate to do that.

    “As things stand now, there is no need for that since the UK Government is already investigating her. Government will not take any decision that will jeopardize what the UK government is doing.

    “Mrs Deziani Allison-Madueke is facing charges of money laundering and acquisition of properties in the United Kingdom.

    “So it is more important to face the charges there than for her to come as a mere witness in a case in Nigeria.’’

  • Diezani pleads to face trial in Nigeria

    Diezani pleads to face trial in Nigeria

    Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke yesterday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the Federal Government to facilitate her return to Nigeria to face trial.

    She asked for an opportunity to defend allegations against her in a charge filed against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dele Belgore and former National Planning Minister Abubakar Suleiman.

    The prosecution said Mrs. Alison-Madueke allegedly shared $115,010,000 (about N35billion) to individuals in the 36 states ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    Belgore and Suleiman allegedly received N450million.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused them of conspiring to directly take possession of the N450million.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke was not listed as a defendant in the case. She is described as being “at large” in the charge.

    Her lawyer Obinna Oniya told Justice Rilwan Aikawa yesterday about a pending application seeking to join the former minister as a defendant.

    He said she was accused in counts one to four of giving money to Belgore and Suleiman, an allegation she would like to defend.

    The lawyer said contrary to EFCC’s claim that Mrs. Alison-Madueke was at large, the former minister was in the United Kingdom and was willing to return to defend the allegations.

    He said it would be against her right to fair hearing for the case to proceed without affording her the opportunity to defend herself.

    “The statement made by the prosecution means that the applicant is going to be convicted without being given the opportunity to defend herself,” Oniya said.

    The former minister is praying for an order mandating her to appear in court on the next adjourned date to plead to the charge, especially counts one, two, three and four “being a condition precedent for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the counts”.

    She also asked for an order “mandating the Attorney-General of the Federation, being the agent of the complainant (Federal Republic of Nigeria), to facilitate the prompt appearance of the applicant in court on the next adjourned date, to take her plea and to defend the allegations made against her in counts 1, 2,3 and 4 of the charge.”

    The application is on the grounds that trial had commenced and “is proceeding with considerable haste”, that she was accused of money laundering, that she was not served any notice of arraignment, and that she was not “at large”.

    The lawyer said she “is willing to appear in court to defend herself” and that it was unfair to be left out of the list of defendants.

    “It will be in the interest of justice to facilitate the appearance of the applicant in court in order to enable her defend herself.

    “The applicant’s constitutional right to fair hearing is being infringed upon as the trial is proceeding in her absence in spite of the fact that allegations of astronomical proportion were made against her,”  the grounds of the application read.

    Oniya urged Justice Aikawa to hear and determine the application before going on with yesterday’s proceedings.

    But, EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo opposed the application, saying it was not ripe for hearing.

    “He (Oniya) should not even be heard. The application should not arrest the proceedings,” he said.

    Oniya said he had attempted to serve Oyedepo with the processes in court yesterday, but that the prosecutor declined to accept the papers.

    He said he also could not serve EFCC with the application on Friday as he was told that he came to their office late.

    Oyedepo said he should go back to EFCC, and that it would be accepted.

    Justice Aikawa said the court could not entertain the application until all the parties had been properly served.

    He directed Oniya to serve EFCC and to write the court afterwards for a hearing date.

    The trial continues today.

    Another judge of the court, Justice Abdulazeez Anka, yesterday adjourned the hearing of an application for the final forfeiture of 58 houses allegedly belonging Alison-Madueke to October 11.

    She allegedly bought the houses between 2011 and 2013 for $21,982,224 million (about N3.3bllion).

    The case, which was before a vacation judge who ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties, has been permanently reassigned to Justice Anka.

    It was fixed for hearing yesterday, but the respondents were absent.

    Justice Anka directed that the hearing notice be issued to them.

    EFCC said Mrs. Alison-Madueke paid $16,441,906 (N2.6billion) cash in several tranches and $5,540318 (N840,000,000) cash for the properties through four firms which held the titles in trust for her.

    The properties include 29 terrace houses comprising eight four-bedroom penthouse apartments, six three-bedroom apartments, two three-bedroom maisonettes, two twin bedroom apartments and one four-bedroom apartment.