EFCC Rejects Diezani’s UK Court Acquittal in Asset Forfeiture Suit
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opposed an application by Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to introduce her recent UK fraud acquittal as evidence in her ongoing Nigerian lawsuit.
In a newly filed counter-affidavit, the anti-graft agency urged Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss the request. The EFCC argued that the UK verdict is entirely irrelevant to the asset forfeiture proceedings currently before the Nigerian court.
The EFCC’s opposition, deposed by litigation officer Oyakhilome Ekienabor, highlights three primary points.
It cites jurisdictional irrelevance, arguing that the proceedings at the Southwark Crown Court in London are completely separate and have no bearing on the substantive suit in Nigeria.
It also centres around the scope of forfeiture, with the Nigerian antigraft agency arguing that the Nigerian forfeiture order applies strictly to specific items of jewelry and does not cover other asset categories.
The EFCC claims the former minister’s supplementary affidavit introduces irrelevant facts designed to distract the court from the core issues.
Diezani’s Stance and Legal Strategy
Diezani’s legal team, led by Mike Ozekhome, SAN, filed the suit to challenge the public auction and sale of her personal effects. According to the former Minister, she is seeking to reclaim her forfeited properties on grounds of full exoneration of the bribery allegations by the UK court on June 17, 2026.
Diezani’s legal team has also raised the constitutional ground of fair hearing, with the defense maintaining that the EFCC is attempting to enforce severe property deprivations without a criminal conviction or a fair hearing.
Her defense clarified that they are not asking the Nigerian court to act as an appeal court for the UK judgment but rather to consider it a fresh, material fact that supports her case.
Court Proceedings and Next Steps
During Tuesday’s court session, Diezani’s representative, Mrs. Queen-Ubokutom Uwe, noted that the EFCC served them with the counter-affidavit just before the hearing began. Conversely, EFCC counsel Paul Mgbeoma expressed surprise at the high volume of processes being filed by the plaintiff, comparing the frequency to an election petition timeline.
Justice Ekwo has fixed November 11 for the hearing of all pending motions.
