EFCC links $37.5m Banana Island mansion to Diezani


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is linking a new $37.5m property to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.



The exquisite 15-storey building which is located on the highbrow Banana Island in Lagos is the latest on the list of choice properties said to have been acquired by the ex-minister with alleged stolen public funds.

It is an 18 flat edifice.

A reliable EFCC source said yesterday that the ownership of the building was discovered this week in the course of the investigation of the former minister.

The source said: “The property Building 3, Block B, is a 15 storey edifice comprising 18 flats and 6 penthouses, Bella Vista at Plot 1, Zone N, Federal Government Layout, Banana Island Layout, Foreshore Estate, Off Onikoyi Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

“The property was acquired by the former minister between 2011 and 2012 at a total cost of $37,500,000USD from the developers, YF Construction Development and Real Estate.

“It was acquired in the name of a Shell company, Rusimpex Limited under the control of a certain Mr. Afamefuna Nwokedi in Lagos.

“The investigation continues.”

The EFCC source said the agency might seize the property.

His words: “We will do this after the completion of investigation and obtaining of all title documents.”

Sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004 empower the anti-graft agency to invoke Interim Assets Forfeiture Clause.

Section 28 of the EFCC Act reads: ‘Where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the Commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the Court.’



Section 13 of the Federal High Court Act reads in part : “The Court may grant an injunction or appoint a receiver by an interlocutory order in all cases in which it appears to the Court to be just or convenient so to do.

(2) Any such order may be made either unconditionally or on such terms and conditions as the Court thinks just.”

Properties which EFCC records show as belonging to Mrs.Alison-Madueke are:

A block of 6 unit service apartments at Awolowo Road, Ikoyi
*Six unit terrace flats in Yaba, Lagos

Twin four-bedroom duplexes in Lekki Phase I
Two duplexes in Banana Island
A duplex in Asokoro. District, Abuja
A mini-estate in Mabushi, Abuja
A set of 12 terrace duplexes at Omaremi Street in Port Harcourt
Large expanse of land at Oniru, Victoria Island in Lagos
* A multi-billion Naira estate in Yenagoa

* Two apartments in Dubai marked as J5 Emirates Hills (30million Dirham) and E146 Emirates Hills valued at 44million Dirham

* A hotel in Port Harcourt under investigation.

The former minister in a January 21 2017 lengthy statement in London denied being a thief.

She accused the EFCC of taking advantage of her silence all this while to put her on media trial and cited the $153million which she was accused of withdrawing from the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation( NNPC) while in office.

She said that as the petroleum minister, the operation and management of NNPC finances were “outside my purview as outlined in both the Petroleum Act and the NNPC Act.”

She added:”The only involvement I had in NNPC finances was in terms of statutory matters, where the Petroleum Act prescribed that as Minister, there were certain duties or actions which I had to perform or take in relation to NNPC.”

On the alleged $700million found in her house and some mansions traced to her, Diezani accused EFCC of witch-hunt,saying: “On the 13th of June 2016, the EFCC once again took their well-trodden path to the media. This time claiming that they had ‘discovered’ a mansion in Asokoro, Abuja, worth $18million (approx. N9billion) which they purported to belong to me. The EFCC went to the extent of bringing in Aljazeera, an international TV station, to air a damaging documentary against me in this regard, showing a particular residential building in Asokoro, Abuja, which they told Aljazeera belonged to me

“The EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu, personally took the Aljazeera reporter to the building, alleging that it belonged to me. It has since become apparent that the house belongs to a company owned by Mr Kola Aluko.

“If this is not a witch-hunt or a personal vendetta against me, how is it that one of our country’s premier investigative agencies were unable to avail themselves of facts that are freely available in the public domain.

“Since the EFCC claims that the alleged $18million Asokoro property belongs to me, then they should kindly produce the ‘Authentic’ Certificate of Occupancy and Land Registry information and any other relevant information, as proof of my ownership of the property.

“On the 9th November 2016, the EFCC visited our family home in Yenagoa (Bayelsa State) as pre-agreed and they were escorted around the premises. I was therefore completely shocked to once again see my name sensationally splashed across the front pages of newspapers and widely circulated on the internet, with blaring headlines such as “EFCC UNCOVERS DIEZANI’S MULTI-BILLION NAIRA ESTATE” – Nation Newspaper, January 8, 2017 (Annex- 4A). There was absolutely nothing ‘Hidden’ or ‘Concealed’ about the home.

“I had declared it openly as required by Law, in my Asset declaration forms (Annex-4B). Yet the EFCC have announced that they ‘Just Discovered’ my ‘Hidden Estate’! And labelled it a ‘Multi-Billion Naira Estate’! Even though they had been given the Bill of Quantities, showing actual amount spent.

“It is an accepted tradition across the length and breadth of Nigeria, for people to own country/village homes. Given the size of the land and the location of the compound, the buildings thereon cannot by any stretch of the imagination be a “Multi-Billion Naira” palatial estate, as the news mongers would want to portray.”
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  1. A woman, a mother who is so heavy heart to have stolen so much more even her female counterparts. I am not surprise because it is often said that what a man can do a woman can do better. Truly she has really she has done better.
    She has part take in killing so many women who has died of maternal challenge. Look at the what is going around in Port Harcourt relating to air pollution. It is an irony. The rivers people are the poorest people in the entire country now. A supposed very rich state is in dare need for development. Imagine no potable water, no good roads, no electricity, no health facilities, in tertiary education if a student can not sort he/she is bound to fail. All of the above applies to Bayelsa, the state she comes from.

    ReplyDelete
  2. And some body will open his or her dirty mouth that the federal government is not developing the niger delta, when all of them spent all they stole from the so called oil money in Abuja, Lagos, Dubai, London America. Come to think of it some of the people from that area will sound as if they don't like moslems yet there sisters/brother are busy developing moslems nations very myopic set of idiotic, low level brain. I want to think and seriously agreed with one Eva from Bayelsa who some years back said that the level of gas flaring has destroyed the thinking faculty of an average niger delta citizens. This is true because of the level of their reasoning concerning the implications of incessant bombing of oil pipe line, after all who surfers environmental degradation. Please, tell me na sokoto or Anambra people. Their brain is completely corrupt. Even listen to some governors from that region when they make comments in public, they are not different from mad person whom are urgently in need of mental rehabilitation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gullible MUMU! Continue to believe all U read on print and electronic media without carrying out your own investigation. U are quick to react when the story suits your imagination and slow/ will not react at all if the story does not support your interest.
      Gullible GULLY!

      Delete
    2. Emany means MUMU in my language. So, i'm not supprise the way u comment anytime there's negative story about past govt. Continue dey mumu urself. Mumu.

      Delete
  3. A picture is worth a thousand words!

    ReplyDelete
  4. El matoski and your fool member...from day one I knew you are a beneficiary of this stolen funds.... Your mumu nature ad blindfolded you... Andrew yakubu too is fake.... Foolish people... El galatians

    ReplyDelete
  5. This Elmatosky self,did you share the loot??People stole Money but you always like defending criminals,nawa for U!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annoying Anonymous! Ur MUMU no get part two. People stole money? Who no dey steal money for this corrupt country?
      If U get chance U go steal Nigeria. MUMUs!

      Delete
  6. The people catching the thieves now are themselves thieves and selective with the investigation many known thieves among their supporters are never mentioned let alone query their wealth! Nonsense!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You are a lost Cause EL MATOSKY...your kind is the reason why Nigeria Will never GO FOWARD.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You are a lost Cause EL MATOSKY..
    its because of people like you that NIGERIA will never move foward.

    You don't have compassion for the generation that's coming after us.
    look at your utterances..encouraging looting,,because you have nothing innovative to offer this country, this world,other than stealing and immediate ratification,
    Was this how the rest of the world got to where they are presently by stealing all proceeds of the nation for their personal gain ..property..greed ?
    That's why TRUMP said we have learnt nothing and need to be recolonized...need to be re taught how to run and sustain a nation.
    Nigeria is in darkness while a public servant reeks in Billions of Nairas, dollars and properties..
    No health scheme for the indigenes of this country...Housing ,..no
    people die here for health problems N20,000.00 can solve
    but your government officials loot evrything...
    see what you are saying.

    You are a Lost cause EL MATOSKY.

    ReplyDelete

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