Diezani Seeks Court Order to Stop EFCC Asset Sales

Court Order Requested by Diezani to Halt EFCC Sales

​Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from proceeding with the sale of assets seized from her. In her legal filing, led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, she also seeks an order compelling the EFCC to recover any properties already auctioned to individuals or corporate entities.

Alison-Madueke contends that the EFCC obtained forfeiture orders without her being charged or notified of any criminal proceedings, thereby violating her fundamental right to a fair hearing. She asserts that the forfeiture orders were based on misrepresentations and concealment of material facts, as she was neither served with relevant court processes nor aware of the proceedings due to her absence from Nigeria since 2015 for medical treatment.

The EFCC, in response, has filed a counter-affidavit challenging the competence of her suit. The agency maintains that following extensive investigations into her activities while in public office, criminal proceedings were initiated, leading to court orders for the forfeiture of assets linked to her.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled a hearing for March 27 to address Alison-Madueke’s application to halt the sale of her seized properties by the EFCC.

This development follows recent international actions concerning assets linked to Alison-Madueke. In January 2025, the United States announced the return of $52.88 million in assets to Nigeria, which were confiscated in 2023 during a corruption probe involving her tenure as oil minister from 2010 to 2015.