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Retrieve my seized assets from buyers, Diezani tells court

Published

1 year ago

March 18, 2025

Trends Admin

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke

Retrieve my seized assets from buyers, Diezani tells court

Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum, requested the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to reclaim her seized assets from their buyers.

The former minister expressly sought that the court order the anti-graft agency to reclaim the seized assets from the persons or businesses to whom they were sold.

Diezani made this motion in a revised application filed on her behalf by her attorney, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

She requested an injunction to overturn the EFCC’s public notice, which served as the foundation for the public auction of her assets.

She also requested the court to declare the EFCC’s public auction a violation of legislative laws, including the EFCC Act of 2004 and the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act of 2022.

Diezani claimed that the sale violated her right to a fair hearing, as stipulated by Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as modified).

She also requested an order prohibiting the EFCC from disposing of her properties as indicated in the public notice, as well as an order vacating the EFCC’s notice, which was based on a number of judgements and decrees in its favour.

She claimed that the final forfeiture orders imposed on her possessions breached her proprietary rights owing to a lack of jurisdiction and the denial of a fair hearing.

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The former minister also requested an extension of time to seek court leave to rescind, discharge, or set aside the EFCC’s public notice.

The EFCC published in a public notice that Diezani’s assets would be sold between January 9 and January 13, 2023.

Diezani filed a lawsuit against the EFCC shortly after the announcement.

In an originating action designated FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, filed on January 6, 2023, she requested an extension of time to apply for an order setting aside the public notice and preventing the auction of her assets.

However, in a counter-affidavit filed on March 14, the EFCC asked the court to dismiss the complaint.

The declaration, signed by litigation officer Oyakhilome Ekienabor, disputed various accusations made by Alison-Madueke.

Ekienabor noted that thorough investigations into the former minister’s actions during her tenure resulted in criminal charges against her in several courts, including the Federal High Court.

He referenced charges filed in 2017 and 2018 as evidence against her, stating that the properties were sold in accordance with final forfeiture orders issued by the Federal High Court on July 9, 2019, and September 10, 2019.

According to Ekienabor, the forfeiture orders did not violate Diezani’s right to a fair hearing, and the properties were disposed of in accordance with due process.

“The cases leading to the forfeiture orders were actions in rem, and the decisions are binding on all,” said the judge.

He noted that during the forfeiture proceedings, the court directed the EFCC to issue a notice seeking interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be forfeited.

Ekienabor further noted that Diezani was represented in one of the cases, but the court imposed the final forfeiture orders after considering her counsel’s views.

On February 17, Justice Ekwo allowed the former minister’s request to amend her claim, following a petition by her counsel, Godwin Iyinbor.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, Iyinbor informed the court that an updated originating motion was filed and served on the EFCC on February 20th.

He asked for an adjournment to answer to the commission’s counter-affidavit, which was submitted on March 14.

Justice Ekwo underlined the importance of expediting the case, which has been pending since 2023.

Divine Oguru, the EFCC’s counsel, apologised for the delay in answering and told the court that he would be ready for the next hearing.

“We will be ready to go on the next adjourned date, my lord,” he said.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case to March 27 for a hearing.

Retrieve my seized assets from buyers, Diezani tells court

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Akwa Ibom Barber Jailed 14 Years for Defiling 12-Year-Old Girl

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1 hour ago

April 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Akwa Ibom Barber Jailed 14 Years for Defiling 12-Year-Old Girl

An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene has sentenced 32-year-old barber, Ofonime Augustine Etim, to 14 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine for defiling a 12-year-old girl, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to child protection and sexual offence enforcement.

The convict, who hails from Abama village, Obot Akara Local Government Area, was found guilty of committing the offence on May 10, 2023, in Ikot Obong Otoro, Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

During the trial, the State Ministry of Justice prosecution team called three witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) and a consultant gynecologist, and tendered documentary evidence. The medical evidence was pivotal, with the gynecologist confirming a 2cm deep vaginal wall laceration and multiple bruises, consistent with forceful sexual penetration.

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The IPO testified that the victim had been abducted and taken to the convict’s residence, while the victim’s elder sister recounted that the girl had been missing for several days before being rescued and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Justice Augustine D. Odokwo, who presided over the case, ruled that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt, dismissing the convict’s own testimony as unsubstantiated. The judge emphasized the gravity of the offence, stating, “The law is designed not only to punish but to deter others from such acts. Children must be protected.”

The court ordered that the time Etim has spent in custody since May 13, 2023, be deducted from his sentence. It also directed that the convict’s name be entered into the State Sex Offenders Register, while all exhibits tendered during the trial remain in court custody pending any appeal.

Child protection advocates hailed the verdict, noting that it sends a strong message that perpetrators of child defilement and sexual abuse will face strict penalties, reinforcing justice and safety for minors across the state.

Akwa Ibom Barber Jailed 14 Years for Defiling 12-Year-Old Girl

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Lagos Taskforce Launches Anti‑Crime Patrol Unit to Curb Rising Criminality

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2 hours ago

April 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Akerele addressing operatives of the unit. Photo: Taskforce

Lagos Taskforce Launches Anti‑Crime Patrol Unit to Curb Rising Criminality

The Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences has officially launched a dedicated anti‑crime patrol unit to tackle escalating criminal activities, environmental offences, and street-level threats across the state. The launch took place on Wednesday at the task force’s headquarters in Bolade, Oshodi, and was led by the agency’s Chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele.

The new patrol unit is designed to operate as a rapid-response team, patrolling crime hotspots 24/7 to proactively detect, deter, and neutralise criminal activities before they escalate into serious threats to public safety. According to Akerele, the unit’s mandate covers a wide spectrum of offences, including drug peddling, street urchinism, area boys activities (locally called “Omotaku”), one-chance robbery syndicates, attacks on government officials, quackery, and indiscriminate waste disposal.

“The unit will operate all out to stamp out criminal activities in the state this year. No stone will be left unturned to compel criminals to desist from their acts or relocate from Lagos State,” Akerele stated. He urged residents to support law enforcement efforts by providing timely and credible information that could aid operations.

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The initiative also comes after the Lagos State Police Command withdrew the task force from traffic enforcement, allowing it to focus entirely on security operations and law enforcement against criminality. Akerele emphasized that while traffic duties have been reassigned, the task force’s core functions remain intact, and the anti-crime patrol unit will intensify surveillance and intelligence-driven operations in known flashpoints.

Law enforcement observers note that Lagos, being Nigeria’s commercial hub, faces persistent street crime, drug offences, and environmental violations, making the launch of this unit a strategic move to reinforce public safety and protect lives and property. The task force aims to enhance Lagos State’s security architecture by deploying personnel in high-risk areas and responding swiftly to incidents reported by residents.

The state government hopes that this enhanced patrol unit will serve as a deterrent against criminality, ensuring a safer environment for both residents and businesses as the city continues to grow and urbanize.

Lagos Taskforce Launches Anti‑Crime Patrol Unit to Curb Rising Criminality

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Couple Jailed 15 Years for Selling Infant, Toddler in Calabar

Published

2 hours ago

April 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Couple Jailed 15 Years for Selling Infant, Toddler in Calabar

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Cross River State Command, has secured convictions against a husband and wife for selling their children for monetary gain in Calabar. The couple, Esther Ini Udo (32) and Eyo Stephen Udo (34), were sentenced to 15 years in prison each and fined ₦2 million, following a four-count charge for child trafficking and exploitation.

The Federal High Court, Calabar heard that Esther sold her newborn baby to a trafficker, Oluchi Judith (at large), for ₦300,000, while the couple also bought a one-year-old baby from accomplices, Blessing and Uduak, for ₦150,000 and resold the child to the same trafficker for ₦400,000. The court strongly condemned the actions, describing them as a gross violation of child rights and anti-trafficking laws.

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Both defendants initially pleaded not guilty, but the court found them guilty on all counts. Justice I. Ojukwu, presiding over the case (Suit No: FHC/CA/19C/2025), sentenced Esther and Eyo Stephen to 15-year jail terms, to run concurrently from April 1, 2026, the date of judgment.

The court also directed NAPTIP to arrest Oluchi Judith, who is wanted in connection with this and other human trafficking cases. Authorities emphasize that child trafficking remains a serious offense in Nigeria, with law enforcement intensifying efforts to dismantle networks involved in the sale and exploitation of infants and toddlers.

NAPTIP hailed the convictions as a significant victory against human trafficking, urging communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving children. Officials stressed that such harsh sentences serve as a deterrent to traffickers and perpetrators of child exploitation across the country.