Court Orders Forfeiture Of 56 Houses Linked To Diezani

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday
ordered the temporary forfeiture of 56
houses linked to a former Minister of
Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-
Madueke. The houses, located in Abuja,
Lagos and Port Harcourt, were said to have
been acquired by the ex-minister between
2011 and 2013 using front companies. The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
claimed that Diezani paid $21,982,224 for
the properties, adding that it believed that
the funds were proceeds of crime.

The anti-graft agency listed the properties
to include 29 terraced houses comprising
eight four-bedroomed penthouse
apartments, six three-bedroomed
apartments, two three-bedroomed
maisonettes, two twin bedroomed
apartments and one four-bedroom
apartment. The houses, located at No. 7,
Thurnbull Street and 5, Raymond Street,
Yaba, were allegedly bought by Diezani for
the United States dollar equivalent of
N937,000,000 through Chapel Properties
Ltd. Others seized houses are 16 four-
bedroomed terraced houses in Heritage
Court Estate, Plot 2C, Omerelu Street,
Diobu, Government Residential Area (GRA)
Phase 1 extension, Port-Harcourt, Rivers
State, purchased for N928,000,000 through
Blue Nile Estate Ltd.

The properties also include 13 three-
bedroomed terraced houses with one-room
maid’s quarters ensuite for N650,000,000
through Azinga Meadows Ltd.