Justice Musa Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday fixed June 30 for the hearing of a suit filed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, challenging the forfeiture of her assets by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
At the resumed hearing of the matter, Alison-Madueke was represented by Mr. Godwin Iyinbor from the chambers of Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), but the EFCC had no representation in court.
Inyinbor told Justice Umar that Justice Inyang Ekwo, who handled the matter previously, had said on the last adjourned date that any party who prevented the definite hearing of the matter on the next adjourned date would pay costs.
Justice Umar, however, said since he was not the one who made that pronouncement, the commission should be given another opportunity to appear in court.
He ordered that hearing notices be issued and adjourned the matter rill June 30 for hearing.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, which started in 2023, Alison-Madueke prayed the court to extend the time to apply for an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice issued for the sale of her properties.
In her application, she argued that the orders for the forfeiture of her assets were made without jurisdiction.
The former minister held that she was denied a fair hearing in the proceedings that led to the forfeiture orders.
She sought five orders from the court, including the annulment of the EFCC’s public notice on the sale of her properties.
She contended that the various court orders issued in favour of the EFCC violated her constitutional right to a fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.
