After Investigation, EFCC Traces N47.2bn, $487.5m In Cash And Properties To Diezani Madueke

Date: 09-08-2017 10:30 am (6 years ago) | Author: Bayo Nelson
- at 9-08-2017 10:30 AM (6 years ago)
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From time immemorial, precious metals – gold, silver and sparkling stones such as diamonds have delighted women.  Relationships have been built and destroyed, wars fought for and reconciliations cemented with gold and precious stones.  Not too far back in history, Liberia was the theatre of war over Blood Diamonds.

Unlike Liberia however, the Nigerian nation is not at war.  But, it seems Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, until recently, Minister of Petroleum Resources, going by the sheer amount of her acquisition of gold and diamonds, may have been fighting a spirited war against millions of compatriots who are heavily and unevenly yoked by crass poverty. To boot, the former minister is accused of having stolen – in broad daylight – the money that funded her acquisitive binge.

A search of one of Alison-Madueke’s palatial residences in Abuja, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, turned up boxes of gold, silver and diamond jewellery, worth several million pounds sterling.

Apart from the jewellery, the EFCC, Nigeria’s foremost anticorruption agency, has traced N47.2 Billion and $487.5 Million in cash and properties to the former Minister of Petroleum Resources in Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The former minister who has been in London since the birth 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. But, on the strength of weighty evidences placed before Nigerian courts, there are a string of judicial pronouncements ordering the forfeiture of all allegedly ill-gotten wealth to Alison-Madueke’s former employers, the Federal Government of Nigeria.

One of the constitutional requirements to be appointed to public office in Nigeria, is the total declaration of all personal assets. It does seem like that provision was observed more in the breach by Alison-Madueke.

The EFCC, in the course of investigation, traced another property valued at $37.5m to the former minister in Banana Island, Lagos. She was said to have purchased the 15-storey building, which comprises 18 flats and six penthouses, between 2011 and 2012from 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 August 7, 2017, 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 Diezani Alison-Madueke. The order followed an exparte application filed on July 17, 2017 by the EFCC.

At the last adjourned sitting on July 19, 2017, counsel to the EFCC, A.B.C. Ozioko, while moving the ex-parte application, had urged the court to order the forfeiture of the total sum of US$2, 740,197.96 and N84, 537,840.70 respectively found by the Commission in Rusimpex USD account No. 1013612486 domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. Ozioko had also urged the court to order an interim forfeiture of the assets and property.

Ruling on the applications, Justice Obiozor  had ordered the respondents- Deziani, Afamefuna Nwokedi and Rusimpex Limited- to show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The judge had further ordered the publication of the interim order in any national newspaper for the respondents or anyone who is interested in the property to appear before the court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of the property should not be made in favour of the Federal Government.

At the resumed hearing on August 7, counsel to the EFCC argued that the failure of the second and third respondent, Nwokedi and Rusimex meant that “they are not willing to contest the application”.

In his ruling, Justice Obiozor ordered the final forfeiture of the property to the Federal government, in view of the failure of any interested parties or persons to contest the interim forfeiture order as published in a national newspaper by the Commission. The court also ordered the permanent forfeiture of the sums of US$2, 740,197.96 and N84, 537,840.70 respectively realized as rent on the property.

But, by far the most numbing, record-shattering acquisitions of Alison-Madueke, is to be found 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 located on Block C-5, Flat 21, Plot 1, Zone N.  For them, a $350 Million (Three Hundred and Fifty Million US Dollar) hole was allegedly dug in the Nigerian treasury on November 22, 2011, by Alison-Madueke.

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 bought at the rate of N800 Million (Eight Hundred Million Naira) on January 6, 2012.

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

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, which dug a deep hole of an eye-popping N1 Billion (One Billion Naira), were paid for on May 30, 2012. The same day Alison-Madueke splashed N900 million for the Port Harcourt estate.

In Lekki Phase one, an upscale neighbourhood of Lagos, operatives found a twin four-bedroom duplex. The duplex is located on Plot 33, Block 112, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme Phase 1, Lekki, Lagos, with an estimated value of over N200 Million (Two Hundred Million Naira).

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 bought on February 16, 2012, for N135 Million (One Hundred and Thirty- Five Million Naira).

Plot 8, Gerard Road Ikoyi, Lagos, another property 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 (Twelve Million Naira) on December 20, 2011.

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. Investigators have discovered that the property acquired by the ex-minister in December, 2009, at the cost of N400 Million (Four Hundred Million Naira)  was never declared in any of the asset declaration forms filed by Alison-Madueke.

Also 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 (Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira).

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 bought on July 20, 2011 for N80 Million (Eighty Million Naira).

Down South in Nigeria’s oil city of Port Harcourt, the former minister’s acquisitive appetite took her to 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 did not blink as she shelled out N900 Million (Nine Hundred Million Naira) 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 charge, has N23,446,300,000 and $5milion (about N1.5billion) in various Nigerian banks.

Based on evidence presented by the Commission before the court, Justice Muslim Suleiman Hassan 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 ofN34 Billion naira which has been traced to the former minister.

Earlier in May 2016, the sum of over $100 Million (One Hundred Million US dollars) were traced to the accounts of several Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staffers, who were allegedly bribed by Alison-Madueke to compromise Nigeria’s 2015 general elections.

Justice Mohammed B. Idris of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on April 27, 2017, ordered the final forfeiture of the bribe money traced to one staff of INEC, Christian Nwosu, who was arraigned on April 5, 2017.

In the course of the trial, Nwosu pleaded guilty to receiving the sum of N30 Million (Thirty Million Naira) from Alison-Madueke. Upon his confession, the court ordered the final forfeiture of his landed property situated at Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State. Also forfeited by Nwosu to the federal government was the cash sum of N5 Million (Five Million Naira).

Going by the continued unearthing of hard-to-ignore evidences of unexplained acquisitions, coupled with Justice Chuka Obiozor’s rulling on the final forfeiture of a $37.5m (N11.75bn) (Eleven Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) to the federal government, ex-minister Alison-Madueke’s evidence-free counter-charge, that she is a victim of EFCC persecution, may be ringing hollower and hollower.

Orilade and Gambari are officers of the Public Affairs Directorate of  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.


Posted: at 9-08-2017 10:30 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero
- angesco at 9-08-2017 10:51 AM (6 years ago)
(f)
Thank goodness for the prior investigation by FORIEGN agency's!!!!!
Posted: at 9-08-2017 10:51 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- pricklong at 9-08-2017 10:52 AM (6 years ago)
(m)
this woman have completelly finished Nigeria
Posted: at 9-08-2017 10:52 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- Patrioti at 9-08-2017 11:03 AM (6 years ago)
(m)
With all these monies recovered; yet Nigeria is still in recession.
Posted: at 9-08-2017 11:03 AM (6 years ago) | Upcoming
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- ruthie at 9-08-2017 11:09 AM (6 years ago)
(f)
JONATHAN IT SHALL NOT BE WELL WITH YOU..SO U MEAN UNDER HIS WATCH..ALL THESE MONIES WERE STOLEN... Cry Cry Cry Cry
Posted: at 9-08-2017 11:09 AM (6 years ago) | Hero
Reply
- WhaleDog at 9-08-2017 12:11 PM (6 years ago)
(m)
Quote from: ruthie on  9-08-2017 11:09 AM
JONATHAN IT SHALL NOT BE WELL WITH YOU..SO U MEAN UNDER HIS WATCH..ALL THESE MONIES WERE STOLEN... Cry Cry Cry Cry
  there's no aquits for Jonathan in this whole mess,I will never buy Jonathan unawareness claim .This much money is missing from the nation treasury and Jonathan would say he was not a party to it or have no knowledge of this bogus stealing !!! Jonathan is as guilty as diezani ,they both conspired to swindle Nigerian .Moreover,Sanusi the then governor of CBN lamented billions is missing from federation account but Jonathan response was a sack letter issued with immediate effect to oust Sanusi,in fact sanusi removal was unlawful as it did not follow due process by law ,yet Jonathan ignored and underrated the backlash bcaz the oil money is at his disposal to silent members of parliament.What a criminal ruling class .Well one day go be one day !!!

Posted: at 9-08-2017 12:11 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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- WhaleDog at 9-08-2017 12:20 PM (6 years ago)
(m)
I'm sure when the truth is unraveled there's will be no defense for Jonathan .Diezani wasn't acting alone ,she was fronting for Jonathan ,buying properties with several names with hope of surrendering them to Jonathan when the atmosphere is conducive.

Posted: at 9-08-2017 12:20 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- Henrybobo at 9-08-2017 12:44 PM (6 years ago)
(m)
Quote from: Patrioti on  9-08-2017 11:03 AM
With all these monies recovered; yet Nigeria is still in recession.
No mind dem joor de will recover all the money in d name of FG and convert it to their own
Posted: at 9-08-2017 12:44 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- tegonwa at 9-08-2017 01:29 PM (6 years ago)
(m)
Very Wicked Of Her.Hopeless Generation!
Posted: at 9-08-2017 01:29 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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- Haso112 at 9-08-2017 01:38 PM (6 years ago)
(m)
ONE WORD = THIEF
ONE NAME = JONATHAN
Posted: at 9-08-2017 01:38 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- gogoman at 9-08-2017 06:04 PM (6 years ago)
Online (m)
THIS WOMAN AGAIN!!!!!
Posted: at 9-08-2017 06:04 PM (6 years ago) | Grande Master
Reply
- Starnixx at 9-08-2017 06:12 PM (6 years ago)
(m)
why talk about money which will still be taken by one again because it will be put to work
Posted: at 9-08-2017 06:12 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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- osarobo62 at 9-08-2017 07:31 PM (6 years ago)
(m)
why is there no ''our mumu don do'' protest for the return of this woman
Posted: at 9-08-2017 07:31 PM (6 years ago) | Hero
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- WhaleDog at 10-08-2017 12:30 AM (6 years ago)
(m)
This woman stealing passed thief ,Na real international syndicate she be .Ole ,sophisticated barawo very very heartless and mindless thief .That her big eye should be plugged with hot iron rod .Thief ! Imagine the numbers we ate talking here ,one person is owning all these billions to herself ,not thinking of the soul that hasn't had s single meal on the street of Nigeria .Na wa o! I see why the people will say some brains are shallower than that of a baboon .U will perish ,shameless slay queen.

Posted: at 10-08-2017 12:30 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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- ricket at 10-08-2017 03:22 AM (6 years ago)
(m)
Diezani stole Nigeria blind, is it new? Babangida and others northerner the owners of oil wells who dont pay tax I am yet to see or hear people make noise about it. Make we hear word na today these things started
Posted: at 10-08-2017 03:22 AM (6 years ago) | Newbie
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- teral at 10-08-2017 07:24 AM (6 years ago)
(m)
PLEASE   I M NOT INTRESTED.  WHEN  WE SHE GO TO  PRISON   THIS ARE  NO LONGER NEWS
Posted: at 10-08-2017 07:24 AM (6 years ago) | Upcoming
Reply
- Sniper101 at 10-08-2017 07:37 AM (6 years ago)
(m)
back then we thought Patricia Etteh was a big thief...

...but this woman here (Diezani Alison-Madueke) I don't even know how best to describe her or which name to call her
Posted: at 10-08-2017 07:37 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- Sniper101 at 10-08-2017 07:45 AM (6 years ago)
(m)
the most annoying part of all these discoveries made is just that after a while the Federal Government [whom all the discovered loot is being forfeited to] will still come out on a broad daylight and say there's no money in Nigeria currently because the past administration had emptied the Nation's treasury (where are all the discovered loots going to?)

and then they'll go ahead to solicit for financial aid from the US or China or IMF or World Bank

it's annoying. really.
Posted: at 10-08-2017 07:45 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- candela at 10-08-2017 12:07 PM (6 years ago)
Online (m)
Jesus Christ!
Posted: at 10-08-2017 12:07 PM (6 years ago) | Upcoming
Reply

fire TRENDING GISTS fire

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