December 6, 2017: A Federal High Court, holden in Lagos on Monday December 5, 2017 ordered a temporary forfeiture of two buildings linked to former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun gave the order on the suspicion that the houses, Penthouse 21 building 5, Block C, 11th floor (Bella Vista Estate) Banana Island and Penthouse 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate) both located in Ikoyi, Lagos are being acquired from proceeds of crime. She ordered that the houses be forfeited to the federal government pending the conclusion of EFCC’s investigation into the ownership of the properties.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) through its counsel, Anselem Ozioko Ozioko, prayed the court to prohibit mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the properties and also appoint competent persons or firms to manage the properties.
In an affidavit deposed to by one of EFCC’s investigators, Abdulrasheed Bawa, he told the court that investigation into the ownership of the house revealed that the two properties were sold at $3.570 million, and $1.194 million, and owned by Sequoyah Properties Limited, and Schillenburg LLC. He added that payment for the Penthouse 22, Block B, 8, Gerrard road, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 21, Building 5, Block C, 11th floor, Plot 1, Zone N, FGN layout, Banana Island, Ikoyi, were made by Mrs. Angela Jide-Jones, and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, respectively.
The deponent also revealed that Mrs. Angela Jide-Jones, is the wife of Jide Omokore, while Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, is registered and promoted by Jide Omokore. He further stated that Jide Omokore paid for the properties through his wife, Angela, and one of his companies, and directed the developers (seller) of the properties to sign the agreements with Schillenburg LLC and Sequoyah Properties Limited, both of which are linked to Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Justice Olatoregun, after listening to the EFCC lawyer, ordered that the two properties be temporarily forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria, and also prohibited any disposal, conveyance mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or the said properties.
The judge, however, declined to grant the order authorizing the anti-graft agency to appoint persons to manage the properties valued at $4.76m.
SR