By Lukman Olabiyi
Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal Court, Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of N23.4 billion, N9.08 billion, and $5 million (about N34 billion in total) linked to former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The judge had earlier, issued an interim forfeiture order on the funds on Jan 6.
The court gave the latest verdict while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking a forfeiture of the funds as being proceeds of crime.
The EFCC had initiated an ex parte application, seeking an interim order, for the temporary forfeiture of the sum to the Federal Government (FG) , which it claimed was linked to the ex Minister.
The court had also issued 14 days to any interested party to appear and prove the legitimacy of the monies, failing which the funds would be permanently forfeited to the FG.
At the last adjourned date on January 24, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo and Mr Charles Adeogun, counsel representing the EFCC and the respondent (Lawal) respectively, had argued their originating processes before the court.
The EFCC’s counsel Oyedepo had urged the court to make the interim order absolute and order a final forfeiture of the sums to the FG
He had also urged the court to order the forfeiture of other sums to which no claim had been laid
Countering the EFCC’s argument, Adeogun urged the court to issue an order, directing a refund of the sum of N9.08billion to the respondent, on the grounds that same were obtained by coercion.
He argued that before such forfeiture orders can be made, two essential elements must be satisfied namely: “that the property in question is unclaimed, and that such property or funds forms proceeds of an unlawful act.
He had urged the court to order a refund of the sum of N9.08 billion to the second respondent on the grounds that same was obtained by coercion.
Justice Hassan in his final verdict on matter, ordered a final forfeiture of the unclaimed sum to the Federal government.