Again, EFCC says it has uncovered Diezani’s $37.5m Banana Island mansion

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has claimed discovery of a $37.5million (N11.75bn) exotic building allegedly belonging to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke located on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The latest discovery is coming on the heels of the recovery of a shocking sum of $9,772,800 and another sum of £74,000 in cash, in a building in Kaduna State belonging to a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Andrew Yakubu.

Massive fraudulent activities in the NNPC at a time oil was selling at $100 per barrel on the average, was said to have robed the country of not less than $20billion.

EFCC has been investigating the activities of the corporation during that period of oil boom, which efforts reportedly resulted in these discoveries.

A detective of the EFCC who made this disclosure claimed that the building in Lagos supposedly owned by Diezani was bought between 2011 and 2012 and shares same estate with Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s residence at Banana Island.

The detective from the anti-graft agency 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.

Read also: Magu says EFCC recovered N4bn from former NNPC GMD

“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.”

Diezani, who was the Minister of Petroleum Resources under former President Goodluck Jonathan, is alleged to have been among the top officials of that administration, who massively defrauded the country.

A mansion in the Asokoro area of Abuja allegedly belonging her, was also last year seized by the EFCC. The building is estimated to be worth $18million.

Meanwhile, the former minister has denied all the allegations levelled against her, claiming that the anti-craft agency is only making false claims and using the media against her.

 

 

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