EFCC Traces N47.2bn, $487.5m To Ex-Petroleum Minister Diezani

Aside from “boxes of gold, silver and diamond jewellery, worth several million British pounds sterling,” the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced N47.2bn and $487.5m in cash and properties to ex-petroleum minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Maduke.

The EFCC said this in a statement titled “Diezani Alison-Madueke: What an appetite,” and signed by Tony Orilade and Aishah Gambari of the agency’s Public Affairs Directorate.

The agency said this after Monday’s court ruling that ordered the former minister to permanently forfeit a $37.5 Banana Island mansion as well as $2,740,197.96 and N84, 537,840.70 realised as rents on the property to the Federal Government.

According to the EFCC, a 21-mixed housing units of eight four-bedroom apartments, two penthouse apartments situated at No. 7, Thurnburn Street and 5, Raymond Street, Yaba, Lagos, were also recovered from Diazani.

“The Raymond Street property is made up of two en-suite two-bedroom apartments and one four-bedroomed apartment,” the agency said.

“The Yaba, Lagos properties, which dug a deep hole of an eye-popping N1bn were paid for on May 30, 2012. The same day Alison-Madueke splashed N900m on a Port Harcourt estate.

“In Lekki Phase One, an upscale neighbourhood of Lagos, operatives found a twin four-bedroomed duplex. The duplex is located on Plot 33, Block 112, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme Phase 1, Lekki, Lagos, with an estimated value of over N200m.

“Also in Lagos, a large expanse of land at Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos has also been traced to the former Petroleum Resources Minister. The land, which is located in Oniru Chieftaincy Family Private Estate, Lekki peninsular, Lagos and currently being utilised as a dumping site, was bought on February 16, 2012, for N135m.

“Plot 8, Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, another property traced to Alison-Madueke, is a penthouse on the 11th Floor in the Block B Wing of the building. It was bought for N12m on December 20, 2011.

“On Plot 10, Frederick Chiluba Close, in the serene, upscale Asokoro district of Abuja, lies a tastefully-built and finished duplex. In the compound, there are also a Guest Chalet, Boys’ Quarters, an elegant swimming pool, fully-equipped sports gym and a host of other amenities. Investigators have discovered that the property was acquired by the ex-minister in December, 2009, at the cost of N400m but it was never declared in any of the asset declaration forms filed by Alison-Madueke.

“Also linked to the former Minister in Abuja is a mini estate at Mabushi, Abuja. The estate located on Plot 1205, Cadastral Zone B06, Mabushi Gardens Estate, houses 13 three-bedroomed terrace houses, each with one bedroom en-suite maid’s quarters. It was purchased on April 2, 2012 at the princely sum of N650m.

“In Aso Drive, Maitama, Abuja, Alison-Madueke reportedly acquired a six-bedroomed en-suite apartment made up of three large living rooms, two-bedroomed guest chalets, two-bedroomed Boys Quarters, two lock-up garages and a car park. It was bought on July 20, 2011 for N80m,” said the EFCC.