Court Admits Diezani’s UK Acquittal as Evidence in Asset Forfeiture Suit Against EFCC

Court Admits Diezani’s UK Acquittal as Evidence in Asset Forfeiture Suit Against EFCC

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, permission to present fresh evidence of her acquittal by a United Kingdom court in her ongoing legal battle against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the forfeiture of her assets.

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the ruling on Wednesday after Diezani’s lawyer, Godwin Iyinbor, moved a motion seeking leave to file a supplementary affidavit containing details of her recent acquittal by the Southwark Crown Court in London.

The application was not opposed by the EFCC.

Although the commission’s counsel, Mofesomo Oyetibo (SAN), argued that the application merely sought to notify the court of the UK judgment and would not materially affect the proceedings, he confirmed that the anti-graft agency had no objection to the request.

Justice Ekwo subsequently granted the application and adjourned the matter until October 6, 2026, when the court will hear both the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the substantive suit together.

The development marks another milestone in the legal dispute between the former minister and the anti-corruption agency over the permanent forfeiture and proposed auction of properties allegedly linked to her.

According to court documents filed by her legal team, led by senior lawyer Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Diezani Alison-Madueke argued that her acquittal by the Southwark Crown Court on June 17, 2026, is a significant development that should be considered by the Nigerian court.

The former minister was discharged and acquitted of all criminal allegations of bribery brought against her by UK authorities after a lengthy trial.

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Her legal team maintained that the verdict reinforces her position that she has not been convicted of any criminal offence and that the EFCC should not be permitted to permanently deprive her of her assets without due process.

The supplementary affidavit further argued that the UK court’s decision is directly relevant to issues before the Federal High Court, particularly regarding absence of conviction, fair hearing, due process, and compliance with statutory procedures governing the forfeiture and disposal of property.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, was instituted by Diezani to challenge the EFCC’s public notice announcing the planned auction and disposal of properties and personal effects allegedly belonging to her.

She contends that the anti-graft agency moved to permanently forfeit the assets without first obtaining a criminal conviction or affording her an adequate opportunity to defend her ownership rights.

Her lawyers also argued that irreversible deprivation of property without strict adherence to constitutional and statutory safeguards violates her proprietary rights.

Diezani had amended her originating motion in February 2025 following leave granted by the court.

The acquittal followed a high-profile corruption trial at the Southwark Crown Court in London.

The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) had accused the former Nigerian petroleum minister of receiving bribes from oil executives in exchange for influencing the award of lucrative oil contracts between 2011 and 2015.

Prosecutors alleged that the benefits included luxury London properties, expensive home renovations, private jet travel, designer shopping and other lavish gifts.

However, after hearing the evidence, the jury acquitted Diezani Alison-Madueke of all charges on June 17, 2026, bringing an end to one of the UK’s longest-running international corruption prosecutions involving a former Nigerian public official.

With Wednesday’s ruling, the Federal High Court will now consider the UK acquittal as part of the evidence in determining whether the EFCC lawfully forfeited and sought to auction the former minister’s assets.

The case is expected to resume on October 6, 2026, when the court will hear arguments on the EFCC’s preliminary objection alongside the substantive suit.

Court Admits Diezani’s UK Acquittal as Evidence in Asset Forfeiture Suit Against EFCC