Barely two weeks after the signing of six agreements with the
United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Federal Government has initiated moves to seize
assets of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke
and four others in Dubai...
The others are: a former Managing Director of the
defunct Oceanic Bank, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru,
a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed and his
son, Shamsudeen.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has
traced eight choice assets to Mrs. Ibru and two to Mrs. Diezani.
Although the ex-FCT Minister and his son are on the Federal
Government’s list, their Dubai houses are yet to be listed. The investigation
is on.
The profiling of the suspected assets of more than 25
Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) is ongoing.
The EFCC has done “considerable intelligence work on the
assets of Diezani and some of her business associates”, a source told The
Nation on Sunday.
The source said: “Following due diligence by the EFCC, the
Federal Government has already compiled a list of first batch of suspects with
houses in Dubai, whose assets ought to be attached.
“They are a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs.
Diezani Alison-Madueke; a former Managing Director of the defunct Oceanic Bank, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru and a former
Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed and his son,
Shamsudeen.
“The government will soon formally apply to the UAE for the
seizure of the assets traced to these Nigerians.
“Despite the fact that many assets were said to be allegedly
owned by Mrs. Ibru, only eight choice mansions has been identified by the EFCC.
“Mrs. Diezani has two apartments, including the one marked as J5 Emirates Hills (30
million Dirham) and another tagged E146 Emirates Hills, valued at 44million
Dirham.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “The EFCC is
profiling more than 25 PEPs based on the huge database from the UAE.
Some of these assets are in Emirates Hills, Marina, Jumeira,
Bur Dubai in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE. “We are yet to focus on looted
funds stashed in the Emirates,” the source said.
On the inclusion of the ex-FCT minister and his son, the
source added: “This is based on intelligence report. We will keep you posted on
the outcome of their suspected assets in Dubai. Ours is to make their names
available for investigation by the UAE.
“Even those who
bought houses through proxies can be detected.”
Following a state visit to the UAE by President Muhammadu
Buhari on January 19, 2016 , the Federal Government entered into six agreements with the Emirates.
The agreements, which were signed by President Buhari last
week, are:
Avoidance of
Double Taxation Agreement;
Agreement on Trade
Promotion and Protection;
Judicial
Agreements on Extradition;
Transfer of
Sentenced Persons;
Mutual Legal
Assistance on Criminal Matters; and
Mutual Legal
Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters(recovery and repatriation of
stolen wealth).
Sections 7 of 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004
and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004 mandate the agency to
seize suspicious assets.
Section 7 says: “The commission has power to (a) cause any
investigations to be conducted as to whether any person, corporate body or
organization has committed any offense under this Act or other law relating to
economic and financial crimes.
“(b) Cause investigations to be conducted into the
properties of any person if it appears to the commission that the person’s
lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of
income.”
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 offense 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.
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