The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the permanent forfeiture of two penthouses linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government.
The properties, worth $4.8m, are located at Bella Vista, Banana Island and Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.
In a short ruling on Wednesday, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun said she had no other option but to order the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government, as an application brought before her to that effect was not opposed.
The application was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which had earlier on December 5, 2017 secured an interim forfeiture order in respect of the penthouses.
Listed as respondents in the application were Diezani, Donald Amagbo, Schillenburg LLC and Sequoyah Properties Limited.
On Wednesday, counsel for the EFCC, Mr. A.B.C. Ozioko, told the court that the anti-graft agency had complied with the directive of the court to publish the interim forfeiture order in the newspaper in order to put interested parties on notice.
He urged the court to order the final forfeiture of the penthouses.
Mr. Emmanuel Bassey, who appeared as counsel for the second, third, and fourth respondents, said his clients were not opposed to the application for the forfeiture.
Consequently, Justice Olatoregun, in her ruling, held, “I have observed the facts and exhibits attached and I am also mindful that the second, third and fourth respondents have no objections to the application.
“It, therefore, have no hesitation in ordering a final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.”
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