$10.3b probe: EFCC to seize Diezani’s assets in America

Ex-minister 'acquired properties in associates' names'
Former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is likely
to lose some United States properties traced to her.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing Mrs
Alison-Madueke for over $10 billion slush funds. It has initiated a
process for the seizure of the assets – in line with United States
laws.
EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu has just returned from the United States
where he discussed with the authorities how to attach the properties,
The Nation learnt yesterday.
In the last one year, the EFCC has traced assets and items worth about
$10billion to Mrs. Alison-Madueke and her business associates, Mr.
Kola Aluko and Chief Jide Omokore.
Some of the assets include an $18million peoperty (over N6.3billion at
N350 exchange rate) in Abuja.
A top EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: "We have located
some assets allegedly owned by Diezani and some of her business
associates in the United States. We are already collaborating with the
US Government to attach these assets.
"In fact, the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, spent about one and a
half weeks in the US to work with the relevant agencies to trace
Diezani's properties, some of which are believed to have been secured
through business fronts like Kola Aluko.
"We have submitted relevant documents to the US authorities in order
to facilitate the seizure of the assets."
Responding to a question, the source added: "Some of these properties
were acquired through some business fronts like Aluko and Omokore.
"We even have a in which houses on a street in Switzerland have been
traced to an associate of Diezani."
The EFCC is working with anti-graft agencies in Britain and the United States.
"Don't forget that the EFCC initially secured a Mareva Injunction from
Justice O.O. Oguntoyinbo to freeze some foreign accounts and seize
some assets linked with Diezani's associates in the United Kingdom,"
the source said.
Accounts have been frozen in some of overseas financial institutions.
They include BNP Paribas (Switzerland), LGT Bank (Switzerland),
Standard Chartered Bank (London),Barclays Bank (London), Standard
Energy (Voduz, Switzerland), HSBC (London), Corner Bank (Lugano,
Switzerland) and Deutsche Bank (Geneva).
Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act 2004 empowers the Commission to freeze
any account suspected of being used for financial crimes.
The section stipulates that "the chairman of the commission or any
officer authorised by him may, if satisfied that the money in the
account of a person is made through the commission of an offence under
this Act or any enactment specified under Section 6(2) (a)-(f) of this
Act, apply to the court ex parte for power to issue or instruct a bank
examiner or such other appropriate authority to freeze the account."
The National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK arrested and quizzed Mrs
Alison-Madueke and four others on October 2, 2015 for alleged bribery,
corruption and money laundering.
Also the EFCC has interrogated five more suspects since her interrogation.
The NCA last year obtained permission from a Westminster Magistrate's
Court to seize 27,000 pounds from Alison-Madueke and two other women.
Although NCA detectives have visited the country this year in line
with the probe, it was unclear as at press time when she will be
formally arraigned in court in the UK.
While the UK investigation was in progress, the EFCC uncovered another
$115million poll bribery scam in which the ex-minister was implicated.
But Mrs Alison-Madueke has described allegations against her as
"cold-hearted" and inhuman because she is ill.
Her statement said in part: "Coming at such a critical time in my life
when I am battling cancer, this poorly executed propaganda bares on
its face like tribal marks, a clearly malicious attempt to victimise
an innocent woman in what appears an exaggerated plot to validate and
give credibility to the anti-corruption crusade under Nigeria's new
regime.
"People who are battling cancer or those who have lost their loved
ones to this medical condition understand what I am going through at
this time.
"This is what makes me ponder at the cold-heartedness of those who
will go any length to defame and destroy in the name of propaganda.
What happened to our shared humanity?
"I have absolute regard for the law and believe that people who have
breached the laws that govern societies should be made to face the
wrath of the law.
"But in a civilized society, a responsible government owes its
citizens absolute commitment to the principles of rule of law, equity,
fairness and justice. I have been wrongfully and maliciously maligned
and those behind this reckless action know it.
"I leave them to posterity, their conscience and above all the
Almighty God who is the final judge of all."