EFCC Challenges Diezani's UK Acquittal in Nigerian Asset Forfeiture Case

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made a strong case against the relevance of a recent acquittal of former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke by a UK court in ongoing asset forfeiture proceedings in Nigeria. In a counter-affidavit submitted to the Federal High Court in Abuja, the EFCC contends that the judgment from the Southwark Crown Court in London, which discharged Alison-Madueke from bribery and corruption allegations, should not be considered in the Nigerian legal context.

Justice Inyang Ekwo had previously granted Alison-Madueke permission to present the UK court's judgment as evidence in her defense, but the EFCC swiftly opposed this move, asserting that the UK proceedings are unrelated to the Nigerian case. The commission emphasized that the issues being litigated in the UK do not intersect with the forfeiture orders concerning assets believed to be tied to Alison-Madueke in Nigeria.

“The proceedings before the Southwark Crown Court, London, United Kingdom, and the purported acquittal of the applicant therein, are in respect of a proceeding that is not being prosecuted before any Nigerian court and have nothing to do with the substantive suit before this honourable court,”

the EFCC stated. The agency has also described some of the depositions made by the former minister in her supplementary affidavit as misleading, urging the court to dismiss her application entirely.

This legal tussle reflects ongoing tensions surrounding high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria, particularly those involving former government officials. The EFCC remains committed to pursuing asset recovery, asserting that domestic legal proceedings should take precedence over foreign judgments in matters of national interest.