Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of $4.760m Properties linked To A Former Petroleum Minister
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos
on Wednesday ordered the final forfeiture of two penthouses valued at
$4.760m, allegedly linked to the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani
Alison-Madueke to the federal government.
Justice Olatoregun specifically ordered that the two properties:
Penthouse 21, building 5, Block C, 11th floor (Bella Vista Estate)
Banana Island, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate)
also in Ikoyi, Lagos, be forfeited to the government.
The judge had on December 5, 2017 ordered the temporary forfeiture of
the properties after hearing an expert application filed to that
effect by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
The court had held that the order was to persist pending the
conclusion of ongoing investigation by EFCC into the ownership of the
properties which it reasonably believes were procured with proceeds of
crime.
The anti-graft agency listed Mrs. Alison-Madueke, Donald Amagbo,
Schillenburg LLC, and Sequoyah Property Limited, as respondents in the
matter.
Apart from the forfeiture order, EFCC also prayed the court for an
order prohibiting any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or
alienation or otherwise of the said assets/properties, as they were
suspected to be proceed of unlawful activity.
The commission further urged the court to make an order authorising
its to appoint a competent person(s)/ firms to manage the said
properties.
The judge granted the order as prayed on Wednesday following no
objection to the application from the listed respondents.
While moving the application, the EFCC counsel, Anslem Ozioko had
informed the court that the application was brought pursuant to
sections 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences
Act number 14, 2006, and section 44(2)(b) and(k) of the constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.
The anti-graft agency also in affidavit attached to the suit and
deposed to by one of its investigators, Abdulrasheed Bawa, averred
that during investigation into the ownership of the two properties, YF
Construction Development and Real Estate Limited, that the firm’s
deputy Managing Director, one Mr. Fadi Basbous, volunteered
extra-judicial statement, wherein he stated that the two properties
were sold at $3.570 million, and $1.194 million, and they are owned by
Sequoyah Properties Limited, and Schillenburg LLC.
Bawa also stated that the payment for the Penthouse 22, Block B, 8,
Gerrard road, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 21, Building 5,Block C, 11 floor,
Plot1, Zone N, FGN layout, Banana Island, Ikoyi, were made by Mrs
Angela Jide-Jones, and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited,
respectively.
He further claimed that the said Mrs. Angela Jide-Jone, is the wife of
Jide Omokore, while the said Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited,
is registered and promotes by Jide Omokore.
Bawa further maintained that Jide Omokore paid for the properties
through his wife, Angela, and one of his companies, and directed the
developers (seller) of the properties to sign the agreements with
Schillenburg LLC and Sequoyah Properties Limited, both of which are
linked to Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The deponent also stated that Schillenburg LLC was registered in
Hongkong, and transferred on March 30, 2012, to Donald Chidi Amamgbo
as sole owner, while Sequoyah Properties Limited, is registered in
Nigeria, on October 11, 2011, with fictitious names of Chukwudima
Nwako and Olisa Eloka, as shareholders and directors. Adding that
Donald Chidi Amamgbo stated in his extra judicial statement that he
incorporated Schillenburg LLC and submitted same to Mrs. Diezani
Alison-Madueke for a transaction.
