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Tag: Federal High Court

  • Judge: Senator’s trial can’t proceed without EFCC’s consent

    Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos Tuesday held that the trial of the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Peter Nwaoboshi, will not go on without the consent of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The judge, who was elevated to the Court of Appeal after the case had begun, said both parties must agree for him to have jurisdiction to continue to adjudicate on the case.

    Read Also:Nwaoboshi money laundering trial stalled as court goes on vacation

    EFCC arraigned Nwaoboshi, Golden Touch Construction Projects Limited and Suiming Electricals on April 25 for alleged N322million fraud.

    Two witnesses had testified for the prosecution before Justice Idris was elevated to the Court of Appeal in June.

    Based on a request by Nwaoboshi and the other defendants, the Court of Appeal President Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa granted Justice Idris a fiat to enable him conclude the case before resuming at the appellate court.

    But the EFCC opposed the fiat, saying it would prefer that the case be transferred to another judge to begin afresh.

    EFCC lawyer Mr M.S. Abubakar argued that Nwaoboshi’s case did not fall within the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) definition of “part-heard” criminal cases which an elevated judge could continue with.

    According to him, Section 494 of the ACJA, which defines part-heard matters, refers to cases in which the prosecution had called all witnesses and closed its case, pointing out that EFCC had only called two of six listed witnesses.

    Urging Justice Idris not to continue with the case, he argued that Section 396 (7) the ACJA, which requires elevated judges to conclude part-heard matters, “is grossly unconstitutional.”

    But, Nwaoboshi’s lawyer Dr Valerie Azinge (SAN) said she was surprised that the EFCC, which always accused high profile defendants of adopting delay tactics to frustrate their trial, was the one opposing Senator Nwaoboshi’s application for a speedy trial.

    She said Section 396 (7) of the ACJA was enacted to cure delays that arise from judges’ elevation, adding that EFCC ought to champion its enforcement rather than rejecting the fiat granted Justice Idris.

    Ruling yesterday on whether or not to continue with the case, Justice Idris emphasised that while the ACJA was designed to achieve speedy dispensation of justice in criminal cases, all parties must be on board.

    He said when together, sections 396 (7) and 494 of the ACJA were drafted to prevent judges who have been elevated to the Court of Appeal from being bugged down by high court cases to the point where it prevents them from assuming their duties at the Appeal Court.

    “In the circumstances of this case, where a fiat has been issued by the President of the Court of Appeal pursuant to Section 396 of the ACJA, and the matter not being a part-heard matter pursuant to Section 494 of ACJA, the court in my view will only have jurisdiction where both parties consent or agree that the matter should go on,” he said.

    Justice Idris said all stakeholders must make the ACJA achieve its potential, adding: “All the stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice must be determined and committed to the process of effective change.”

    He said the ball was no longer in the judiciary’s court as it behooves parties to “walk the walk and not talk the talk, because in the end it is not the talk but the walk that matters…”

    Justice Idris added: “I hold for the avoidance of doubt that the fiat issued by the Honourable President of the Court of Appeal in this matter was validly issued pursuant to Section 396 (7) of the ACJA.

    “However, because the prosecution has not yet closed its case to the satisfaction of Section 494 of ACJA, this matter can only proceed for continuation of trial when both parties agree to give their consent,” the judge held.

    The prosecution alleged that Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Projects purchased a 12-storey property known as Guinea House, Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos for N805million between May and June 2014.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that N322million out of the N805million was part of proceeds of “an unlawful act, to wit: fraud.”

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Idris adjourned till today to enable EFCC reconsider its position.

  • Senator faults EFCC’s bid to transfer ‘money laundering’ trial

    The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Peter Nwaoboshi, Thursday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of trying to delay his trial for alleged money laundering.

    He asked Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos to continue with the case rather than transferring it to another judge.

    EFCC arraigned Nwaoboshi, Golden Touch Construction Projects Limited and Suiming Electricals on April 25 for alleged N322million fraud.

    Read Also:Ekweremadu gives details of EFCC, Police siege to residence

    The prosecution alleged that Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Projects purchased a 12-storey property known as Guinea House, Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos for N805million between May and June 2014.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that N322million out of the N805million was part of proceeds of “an unlawful act, to wit: fraud.”

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Trial had resumed before Justice Idris, with two witnesses testifying so far.

    However, the judge was elevated to the Court of Appeal in June.

    Nwaoboshi and other defendants, through their lawyers Dr Valerie Azinge (SAN), Mr C.A. Nmakwe and Mr I.O. Aniakor wrote to the Court of Appeal president Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa requesting that Justice Idris be given a fiat to conclude the case despite his elevation.

    The request was based on Section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

    It provides: “A judge of the High Court who has been elevated to the Court of Appeal shall have dispensation to continue to sit as a High Court judge only for the purpose of concluding any part-heard criminal matter pending before him at the time of his elevation and shall conclude the same within a reasonable time.”

    Justice Bulkachuwa had granted Justice Idris leave to conclude the case before resuming at the Court of Appeal.

    Trial was billed to resume yesterday, but EFCC lawyer Mr M.S. Abubakar opposed the move, praying that the case be transferred to another judge.

    He argued that Nwaoboshi’s case did not fall within ACJA’s definition of part-heard criminal cases which an elevated judge could continue with.

    According to him, Section 494 of the ACJA refers to cases in which the prosecution had called all witnesses and closed its case.

    Abubakar said the prosecution had not closed its case as it had only called two of six listed witnesses.

    Urging Justice Idris not to continue with the case, he argued that the ACJA section was illegal.

    “Section 396(7) is grossly unconstitutional. My Lord has ceased to be a judge of the Federal High Court, that fiat is unconstitutional. Counsel cannot, by consent, confer jurisdiction on the court where the court has none.

    “The fact that the court needs to have a fiat to continue with the hearing of the case is an indication that it had already lost its jurisdiction to entertain it. Parties and counsel cannot by consent confer jurisdiction on the court where none exist.

    “Section 494 of the ACJA has clearly defined the meaning of a part-heard case and no meaning should be read into it,” he said.

    But, Dr Azinge said she was surprised that the EFCC, which always accused high profile defendants of adopting delay tactics to frustrate their trial, was the one opposing Senator Nwaoboshi’s speedy trial.

    “The mischief rule sought to be remedied by the ACJA is to remove bottlenecks to speedy conclusion of criminal trials. This is a ‘part-heard’ matter with a fiat.

    “Re-assigning the matter to another judge will endanger its justice because the prosecution has already called its witnesses in the case,” she said.

    She said the section was enacted to cure delays that arise from the elevation of judges, adding that EFCC ought to champion its enforcement rather than rejecting the fiat granted Justice Idris.

    “In this case, a fiat has been issued and My Lord has come down from the Court of Appeal; this is the first time this is happening in the history of this country.

    “Arising from the clamour for expeditious trial of criminal cases by both the Bar and the bench, the legislature passed the ACJA; the legislators bought into our cry. Lawyers should not throw this away. In fact, I believe that this law should be exported to the rest of Africa,” she said.

    Nmakwe said the ACJA was enacted to cure the delays in criminal justice administration, urging the judge to reject EFCC’s prayer. “This enactment calls for judicial activism,” he said.

    Justice Idris adjourned until July 31 for ruling on whether or not to continue with the case.

  • Court bars Kano from collecting consumption tax

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has set aside sections 96 and 97 of the Kano State Revenue Administration (Amendment) Law, No. 3 of 2017, which empowers the state to collect consumption tax.

    The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited, operators of Shoprite, sued the Attorney-General of the Federation, Kano Attorney-General and Kano State Inland Revenue Service.

    Read Also:Kano commissioner targets Kwankwaso’s seat

    They urged the court to hold that state law was in conflict with the provisions of the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, Cap VI, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    According to them, the VAT Act is already being implemented by the Federal Government as a consumption tax for the benefit of both the federal and states governments.

    The plaintiffs prayed the court to determine whether Sections 96 and 97 of the Kano State Revenue Administration (Amendment) Law, No. 3 of 2017, did not amount to double and multiple taxation.

    In his verdict, Justice John Tsoho resolved the three issues raised by the plaintiffs for determination in their favour.

    He held that sections 96 and 97 of the Kano State Revenue Administration (Amendment) Law, No. 3 of 2017 are inconsistent with items 7 and 8 of Part II of the Second Schedule to the Constitution.

    According to him, the imposition of consumption tax through Sections 96 and 97 of the Kano State Law over the same goods and services which are already subject to VAT amounted to double taxation.

    The court dismissed the defendants’ preliminary objection to the suit.

     

  • INEC chairman shuns court summons

    Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, failed to honour a court order directing him to appear in court or risk going to jail.
    Justice Stephen Pam of the Taraba division of the Federal High Court but sitting in Abuja on the directives of the Chief Judge of the court gave the order on July 5.
    At the resumed hearing, counsel to Yakubu, Mr Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) told the court that it was the right of a respondent to decide if he wanted to be heard during vacation.
    Awomolo said that he had not consented to his case been heard during the court’s vacation.
    “There is also no affidavit of urgency stating that the case needs to be urgently heard. I also want to notify the court that I have filed an appeal against the ruling.
    ” I have also filed an application praying further hearing to be stopped until the appeal is heard and determined by the Court of Appeal.”
    The senior lawyer added that in any case, he was not in the right frame of mind to argue the matter because he had lost his mother and wanted to go and bury her.
    Mr Chris Uche, (SAN) counsel to the other party Mr Ejike Oguebego, however, said that the chief judge in the exercise of his administrative discretion, agreed to having the matter heard during the vacation.
    “Order 46(5) of the court rules that govern vacation has two arms and it makes room for a case to be heard during vacation except on a Sunday or public holiday.
    ” Where the action is urgent or where the parties apply, and in this case, given the nature of the case, the chief judge applied his administrative discretion in our favour.
    “This is a preelection matter which started since 2014, what could be more urgent,” he wondered.
    Justice Pam in a short ruling said that court orders must be obeyed and counsel must ensure that their clients obeyed them.
    “Counsel must desist from making their clients disregard orders of court. Consistent disregard of orders of court amount to contempt of court.
    ” An applicant cannot while continuing to be in contempt of court, seek the court’s favour.”

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    According to the judge, the fiat issued by the chief judge to hear this matter during vacation is still subsisting and the case will go on during the vacation.
    “The contemnor must appear in person before this court on the next adjourned date.”
    He adjourned the matter until Aug. 1 to allow Awomolo go and bury his mother.
    It would be recalled that the Supreme Court had in Jan. 2016 declared the list of candidates submitted by the Ken Emekayi led faction of the Anambra PDP, illegal.
    That pronouncement emanated from a suit filed by the Ejike Oguebego faction  on behalf of themselves and others including Mr Chris Uba.
    The suit was for the apex court to determine who were the legal and validly nominated candidates of the party to stand for the last general elections for the party in the state.
    Going by the ruling, the list of nominated party candidates in the 2015 general election from the Oguebego-led executive of the Anambra PDP was the only one to be recognised by  INEC.
    In the list, Chris Uba, John Emeka and Annie Okonkwo were said to be the duly nominated senatorial candidates for Anambra South, Central and North in the March 28, 2015 general election.
    Similarly, Justice John Tsoho of a Federal High Court, Abuja, had in 2017 ordered INEC and its chairman to appear before it to answer to contempt proceedings pending against them.
    Justice Tsoho gave the order in his ruling on arguments on whether or not the physical presence of INEC and its chairman was necessary for the court to determine the contempt proceedings.
    The proceedings were initiated against them by Oguebego and Chuks Okoye – Chairman and Legal Adviser of PDP in Anambra.

  • Suswam arraigned on third charge, gets 500m bail

    Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam was arraigned on Friday before the Federal High Court, Abuja on a three-count charge of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms.

    Suswam is, in the charge filed by the Federal Government on June 26 this year, accused illegally concealing weapons in his Mercedes Benz 550 4Matic car with Registration No: BWR 135 AH at parked at Dunes Investment and Properties Ltd, No. 44 Aguiyi lronsi Way, Maitama, Abuja,

    He is also accused of “converting 25 designer wrist watches worth several millions of naira being properties you derived directly from corruption and concealed in your Mercedes Benz 550 4Matic with Registration No BWR 135 AH.”

    Read Also:Benue PDP demands release of former Governor Suswam

    The ex-Governor was also accused of being in possession of “one(l) Gloek Pistol with Serial Number KML 275, one (1) Mini rifle with Serial Number 54976 and One(l) AK 47 with Serial Number 5622620063, which weapons were concealed in your Mercedes Benz 550 4Matic car with Registration No: BWR 135 AH.”

    Suswam pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him on Friday before Justice Babatunde Quadri.

    The latest charge brings to three the number of criminal charges now pending against Suswam before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The ex-Governor is accused of diverting proceeds of the sale of Benue State’s investment in some companies. The case is pending before Justice Ahmed Mohammed.

    He is, in the second charge, accused of diverting funds meant for SURE P projects in the state. The case was pending before Justice Gabriel Kolawole before the judge’s recent elevation to the Court of Appeal. The case is expected to be reassigned to a new judge.

    After his arraignment on Friday, prosecution lawyer, Abubakar Kayode Alilu sought a date for the commencement of trial. He urged the court order that the defendant be remanded in prison.

    Suswam’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN) informed the court about his client’s pending bail application.

    Erokoro moved the application, which Justice Quadri granted. The judge admitted Suswam to bail at N500 million and one surety at the same amount.

    The Judge said the surety, who must be a residence of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), should swear to an affidavit of means, following which the surety’s residential address is to be verified by officials of the court.

    The judge adjourned to October 24 this year for the commencement of trial.

  • Breaking: Court nullifies Imo APC Ward, LG Congresses

    …orders fresh congress

     

    A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital Thursday nullified the Ward and Local Government Congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State.

    The presiding Judge, Justice Lewis Allagoa, in his ruling that lasted for about two hours, held that APC Ward and Local Government Congresses were never held in the state in the first place.

    He therefore ordered the party to conduct fresh Ward congresses in the state in line with the guidelines of the party, “they should go back and conduct fresh Congresses in accordance with the constitutions of the party; they should be responsible and save our democracy.

    Read Also:Imo APC Ward Congress characterized by confusion, controversies – INEC

    The Judge in his ruling observed that The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which is the body mandated by the Electoral Act to supervise primaries and Congresses of political parties in their report attached as exhibit by the Plaintiffs, affirmed that APC Congresses were not held in the state.

    Justice Allagoa in his ruling dismissed the argument of Counsel to the Defendants that the Plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to challenge the conduct of the Ward Congresses in the state.

    He ruled that the Plaintiffs having established the fact that they are members of the party and Ward Chairmen have the locus standi to challenge the outcome of the Ward Congresses.

    Justice Allagoa in also dismissed the argument by Counsel to the second and eight defendant, Kelvin Nwufor (SAN) that the Plaintiffs did not get leave of Court to serve the defendants outside the jurisdiction of the Court, stating that the Federal High has one jurisdiction.

    He therefore granted the Plaintiffs’ prayers that the Court declare as null and void results purported to have emanated from APC Ward Congress in the state as the Congress never held across the state.

    The Plaintiffs who are APC Ward Chairmen in the Originating Summon in the Suit with Suit No FHC/OW/CS/69/2018 had prayed the Court among other reliefs to issue an Order of injunction restraining the defendants by themselves, agents, or privies from announcing or declaring or making reference to non-existing results of the ward congress purportedly claimed to have been released by them as results of the inconclusive ward congress.”

    The defendants in the Suit include the immediate past APC National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, the State Chairman of the party, Chief Hilary Eke, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others.

  • Patience Jonathan’s $15.5m: Court rejects guilty plea reversal

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Tuesday dismissed an application for a plea reversal by four companies that pleaded guilty to laundering $15.5million allegedly belonging to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

    They prayed the court to nullify previous proceedings their trial because those who represented the companies were not authorised to do so.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them with a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to President Jonathan, Dr Waripamo Dudafa, a lawyer Amajuoyi Briggs, who is the companies’ secretary, and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku.

    Unlike the companies, Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge.

    Read Also:EFCC gets fresh order to seize Patience Jonathan’s N7.3b, $8.4m

    The companies’ lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) told Justice Babs Kuewumi that his clients were not given a fair trial before their conviction because they had no legal representation of their choice.

    Ozekhome said he was briefed to represent the companies after its directors pleaded guilty despite not being authorised by the board to do so.

    Moving his motion seeking to set aside the companies conviction, Ozekhome said they were convicted “in gross violation” of the 1999 Constitution, which he said occasioned a miscarriage of justice.

    He prayed that the trial be done de novo (afresh) and that the previous proceedings be declared null, void and unsustainable in law.

    Besides, Ozekhome said the companies were denied the right to cross-examine the directors who purportedly pleaded guilty.

    “They’re just busybodies and interlopers who were pressured to come and plead guilty. They had no mandate to do so,” he said.

    But, prosecuting Counsel Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo urged the court to refuse the application for being an abuse of court process.

    He said prayer amounted to asking the judge to revisit his ruling and to assume the position of an appellate court.

    Oyedepo denied that the directors who pleaded guilty were not authorised, saying there was evidence from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and from the companies’ bank accounts that they were indeed directors.

    Ruling yesterday, Justice Kuewumi held that a judge can only revisit his rulings and judgments in exceptional cases of “serious procedural irregularity” or lack of jurisdiction.

    “The main issue to be addressed in this application is whether this court can revisit its earlier decision whereby the applicants were convicted. Once a court gives and order or judgment, it has no legal competence to reverse itself or set aside its previous order.

    “Considering the circumstances of this case, I have not been shown any valid reason to make me revisit my decision. This court is already functus officio (without authority over the subject-matter).

    “I’m in agreement with the prosecution that this application is incompetent. It is hereby refused and accordingly dismissed,” Justice Kuewumi held.

    He adjourned until October 17 for trial.

  • Court orders EFCC to unfreeze Nyako’s account

    The Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to unconditionally unfreeze the account of Sen. Abdullaziz Nyako and a company linked to him.

    Abdullaziz is the son of former Adamawa governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd), and a serving senator representing Adamawa South Senatorial District.

    Nyako, Nengiofori Jumbo and Blue Opal Nigeria Ltd, in 2015, filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC over freezing of their accounts and sealing of the Hillview Estate, Abuja, belonging to Nyako.

    Delivering judgement on the matter, Justice Babatunde Quadri held that the action of the EFCC was a gross violation of the fundamental rights of the applicants as guaranteed under relevant sections of the constitution.

    In the judgment,  the judge held that the sealing and forfeiture of the applicants’ property by the EFCC was unlawful and oppressive.

    Read also : Adamawa: Bindow, Nyako, others hold parallel congresses

    “In conclusion, the application has merit, same is hereby granted but with following indications, that is, only reliefs 1, 2, and 3 are expressly granted while reliefs 4,5 and 6 are refused.

    “The commission is hereby ordered to unfreeze the account of the applicants unconditionally and forthwith.

    “The commission, having sealed up the premises of the applicants since July 2014, should unseal it forthwith or better still open up the Hillview Estate immediately,” the judge ordered.

    The reliefs refused by the court included the one asking for the award of N10 billion as general and exemplary damages for the wrongful sealing and forfeiture of the applicants’ property.

    Justice Quadri also refused to grant relief five which sought for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondent and its agents from taking any untoward action against the applicants.

  • NRC MD jailed three months for contempt 

    A Federal High Court, Lagos Friday sentenced the Managing Director (MD) of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Fidet Okhiria, to three months in prison custody for contempt ex facie curiae (outside the court).

    Justice Cecilia Mojisola Olatoregun found Okhiria guilty and convicted him in absentia following his alleged refusal to appear before the court despite several summons.

    Justice Olatoregun, in her ruling, noted among others, that the contemnor was disobedient to the law and treated judicial proceedings with levity.

    The judge held: “I have looked at the various affidavits placed before the court and have examined the papers filed from both sides.

    “The contemnor in particular continued to disobey the law. Even if he did not have the notice between February, March till date, he ought to have been guided by his lawyer.

    “He has not given reason to disobey the court. He treated the court order with levity. I am left with no option than to convict him.

    “I hereby sentence him to three months imprisonment”.

    Read Also:NRC to pull down more houses for modern train stations

    Justice Olatoregun ordered that Okhiria should remain in prison custody till September 25, when the case will continue.

    The judge, on February 15, 2018 threatened to order Okhiria’s arrest for his alleged “perpetual refusal” to appear before the court in a (committal proceeding) suit filed against him by a former NRC employee Mr. Benedict O. Iheakam.

    But Okhiria, through his counsel Mr. Opeyemi Igbayiloye, sometime in March, informed the court that he was out of the country on official assignment.

    Igbayiloye tendered a 13-paragraph affidavit sworn to by NRC secretary Obiorah Emedolibe.

    Emedolibe said: “Initial non-compliance immediately was not deliberate nor attributable to the act or inaction of Engineer Okhiria but due to the misplacement of the judgment creditor’s personnel file, the retrenchment, retirement and or death of key staff conversant with the suit and the bureaucracy usually associated with the civil service.

    “Okhiria travelled out of the country to China on official duty since February 7, 2018, as part of Federal Government team on fund sourcing for the Railway Modernization projects.”

    But Justice Olatoregun ordered Okhiria to show evidence of his foreign trip, including providing his travel documents such as international passport, flight tickets and Visa.

    In another sitting, the court directed Okhiria to show cause why he did not comply with court order.

    Justice Olatoregun said: “Orders of a court must be always obeyed. He must not show himself to be above the law. Is he too big to appear in court? I give him a week to obey court.”

    In the substantive suit, Iheakam through his counsel, Mr Johnson Esezoobo (counsel to judgment creditor) sought an an order committing to prison, Okhiria and NRC Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Canise Oklahoma, for alleged refusal to comply with a 14-year-old court order.

    The order, made by Justice Dan Abutu in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/926/95, ordered the NRC to reinstate Iheakam to his employment in the NRC and pay his entitlements.

  • Court forfeits N325.4m land linked with Diezani

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday 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 N325.4m, is designated as Plot 13, Block II, Oniru Chieftaincy Private Family Estate.

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

    Read Also:‘Diezani loot’: Court remands Shagari, four others in police custody

    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.”