A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has granted an order for interim forfeiture of the property traced to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
This development was at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which is presently prosecuting Diezani, Donald Chidi Amangbo and Sequoyah Properties Limited.
EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, in a statement, said the property was located at Plot 9, Azikiwe Road, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He added, “The order was pursuant to a motion ex-parte dated March 4, 2019 brought by the EFCC.
“Ruling on the motion ex-parte, Justice Obiozor held that: “An interim forfeiture order of this honourable court is hereby granted, forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the property which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
“The court further ordered the EFCC to publish the order in any national daily in circulation in Nigeria “and particularly in circulation in Port Harcourt and Lagos, and all persons interested in the said property are further put on notice to show cause why the final order of forfeiture of the affected property ought not to be made by this court.”
Meanwhile, Orilade also disclosed that the court presided over by Justice Chuka Obiozor was expected to give a further ruling on May 9.