EFCC challenges Diezani’s UK acquittal evidence; court sets November 11 hearing

The EFCC has challenged the relevance of Diezani Alison-Madueke’s UK acquittal to her asset-recovery case in Abuja, as the Federal High Court fixed November 11 to hear the parties’ motions.

The commission filed a further counter-affidavit on October 5 opposing the former petroleum minister’s supplementary evidence. It argued that the London criminal proceedings did not address the issues before the Nigerian court.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Alison-Madueke’s lawyer Queen-Ubokutom Uwe told Justice Inyang Ekwo that the EFCC had just served the further counter-affidavit. EFCC lawyer Paul Mgbeoma said he was ready to proceed, but the judge fixed a new hearing date.

The earlier permission to submit evidence of the UK judgment remains part of the case’s procedural history. NaijaTrend reported that decision here. At that stage, the EFCC did not oppose the request to file the additional evidence.

The latest filings concern the relevance of that evidence to the asset dispute. Premium Times and Vanguard, reporting the News Agency of Nigeria’s court account, said the EFCC described parts of the supplementary affidavit as misleading, immaterial and irrelevant.

In the counter-affidavit sworn by litigation officer Oyakhilome Ekienabor, the commission argued that the forfeiture order related to jewellery rather than other categories of property. It also maintained that the public sale notice did not identify the listed properties as belonging to Alison-Madueke.

Those are the EFCC’s arguments, not a fresh ruling on ownership or the merits of the former minister’s claim.

Alison-Madueke’s lawyers argue that the June 17 UK acquittal is relevant to fair hearing, the absence of a conviction and safeguards governing disposal of property. They said they were not asking the Nigerian court to treat the foreign judgment as automatically decisive.

The suit, filed against the EFCC in 2023, challenges the auction or sale of assets affecting her claimed property rights. Her lawyers amended the case in February 2025.

The preliminary objection and the parties’ motions are due to be heard on November 11.

Sources: Premium Times, Vanguard