A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, granted an application by former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to amend her suit challenging the order obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the final forfeiture of her seized assets.

Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the request after the motion was moved by Diezani’s lawyer, Godwin Inyinbor, however, the EFCC Counsel, Divine Oguru, did not oppose it.

When the matter was called, Inyinbor, who appeared for Diezani, informed the court that they had already filed a motion for amendment of their originating process and the defendant had been duly served.Oguru did not raise any objection to the ex-minister’s plea to amend her suit and Justice Ekwo granted it as prayed.

The judge, who gave Diezani five days to file and serve the amended processes, granted EFCC 14 days from the date of service to respond.

The matter was then adjourned until March 17 for further mention.

NAN reports that Justice Ekwo, had, on Nov. 21, 2024, fixed Monday the 17th for hearing the motion to amend the originating process.

The ex-minister had, through her Counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, sued the anti-graft agency as sole respondent.

Alison-Madueke, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, sought an order extending the time to seek leave to apply to the court for an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice issued to conduct a public sale on her property.

In the motion dated and filed on Jan. 6, 2023 by her lawyer, the former minister sought five orders from the court.

The former minister, who argued that the various orders were made without jurisdiction, said these “ought to be set aside ex debito justitiae.”



https://dailypost.ng/2025/02/17/diezani-alison-madueke-court-grants-ex-petroleum-ministers-prayer-challenging-forfeiture-order/