DIEZANI: EFCC claims more shocking discoveries

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) claims it has so far traced about N47.2 Billion and $487.5 Million in cash and properties to the former Minister of Petroleum Resources in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The anti-graft agency in a write up on its website, www.efccnigeria.org, by two officers of its media department, says that a search of one of Alison-Madueke’s palatial residences in Abuja, turned up boxes of gold, silver and diamond jewelry, worth several million pounds sterling.

The former minister who has been in London since the beginning of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, has however continued to deny any financial misdeed. She insists she is being severely maligned and persecuted by the EFCC.

On Monday, Justice Chuka Obiozor, a vacation judge sitting at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, ordered the final forfeiture of a $37.5m (N11.75bn) (Eleven Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) property on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos allegedly belonging to Mrs Alison-Madueke, following an exparte application filed on July 17, 2017 by the EFCC.

The EFCC alleged that the former minister bought the 15-storey building, which comprises 18 flats and six penthouses, between 2011 and 2012 from the developers, YF Construction and Real Estate. The property was allegedly acquired in the name of a shell company, Rusimpex Limited, which is managed by one Afamefuna Nwokedim, Principal Partner, Stillwaters Law Firm, Lagos.

On further investigations, the EFCC said it also found more property allegedly owned by the former minster in the ritzy, nouveaux riches playground of Banana Island, Lagos.

It consists of two apartments at the Bella Vista Court. The apartments which are Penthouses, are said to be located on Block C-5, Flat 21, Plot 1, Zone N, purchased at $350 Million November 22, 2011.

Also in Lagos, Alison-Madueke allegedly bought a block of six units serviced apartments at number 135, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, just a few hundred metres away from the EFCC zonal operations hub. The apartment has a standby power generating set, sporting facilities, play ground and a water treatment plant. The property was said to have been bought at the rate of N800 Million on January 6, 2012.

Other properties in Yaba, Lagos, also discovered by the Commission’s operatives, are located at number 7, Thurnburn Street and 5, Raymond Street.

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The Thurnburn Street property consists of 21 mixed housing units of eight 4-bedroom apartments, two penthouse apartments of 3-bedrooms each and six 3-bedroom (all en-suite) terrace apartments.

The Raymond Street property is made up of two en-suite 2-bedroom apartments and one 4-bedroom apartment.

The Yaba, Lagos properties, were said to have cost N1 Billion and paid for on May 30, 2012. The same day Alison-Madueke allegedly splashed N900 million for a Port Harcourt estate.

In Lekki Phase one, an upscale neighbourhood of Lagos, operatives claimed to have found a twin four-bedroom duplex located on Plot 33, Block 112, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme Phase 1, Lekki, Lagos, with an estimated value of over N200 Million.

Also in Lagos, a large expanse of land at Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos has also been traced to the former Petroleum Resources Minister. The land, which is located in Oniru Chieftaincy Family Private Estate, Lekki peninsular, Lagos and currently being utilized as a dumping site, was paid for on February 16, 2012, for N135 Million.

Plot 8, Gerard Road Ikoyi, Lagos, another property allegedly traced to Alison-Madueke, is a penthouse on the 11th Floor in the Block B Wing of the building. It was bought for N12 Million.

On plot 10, Frederick Chiluba Close, in the serene, upscale Asokoro district of Abuja, lies a tastefully built and finished duplex. In the compound, there are also a Guest Chalet, Boy’s Quarters, an elegant swimming pool, fully equipped sports gym and a host of other amenities.

EFCC investigators claimed that the property was acquired by the ex-minister in December, 2009, at the cost of N400 Million, but was never declared in any of the asset declaration forms filed by Alison-Madueke.

Also allegedly linked to the former Minister in Abuja is a mini estate at Mabushi, Abuja. The estate located on Plot 1205, Cadastral Zone B06, Mabushi Gardens Estate, houses 13 three bedroom terrace houses, each with one bedroom en-suite maid’s quarters. It was purchased on April 2, 2012 at the princely sum of N650 Million.

In Aso Drive, Maitama, Abuja, Alison-Madueke reportedly acquired a 6-bedroom en-suite apartment made up of three large living rooms, two bedroom Guest Chalets, two bedroom Boys Quarters, two lock up garages and a car park. It was said to have been bought on July 20, 2011 for N80 Million.

Down South in Nigeria’s oil city of Port Harcourt, the former minister is also said to have acquired Heritage Court Estate, located on Plot 2C, Omerelu Street, Diobu Government Residential Area, Phase 1 Extension, Port Harcourt.

The Estate which is made up of 16 four bedroom terrace duplexes is equipped with among other facilities, a massive standby power generating set. Alison-Madueke is alleged to have shelled out N900 Million for it on May 30, 2012.

In neighbouring Bayelsa State, an apartment with two blocks of flats, all en-suite, and with a Maid’s Quarters were also traced to her. The house located on Goodluck Jonathan Road, Yenagoa is sitting on a large expanse of land. Realtors spoken to by EFCC investigators have placed estimated values running into hundreds of millions of Naira on the property. The apartments have four living rooms, eight bedrooms and gold-plated furniture.

Aside from jewelry and property, Alison-Madueke, EFCC operatives claim, has N23,446,300,000 and $5milion (about N1.5billion) in various Nigerian banks.

Justice Muslim Suleiman Hassan had on January 6 2017, ordered the funds’ temporary forfeiture to the federal government.

The EFCC again, on January 24, 2017, urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the forfeiture of yet another N9 billion allegedly laundered by some bank officials for Alison-Madueke.

A month later, on February 16, 2017, Justice Hassan ordered the final forfeiture to the federal government, of a whooping sum of N34 Billion naira which has been traced to the former minister.

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