EFCC Allegedly Traces N47 Billion, $487.5 Million to Diezani, Lists Properties

EFCC Allegedly Traces N47 Billion, $487.5 Million to Diezani, Lists Properties

48 hours after a court permanently forfeited a $37 million mansion at Banana Island Lagos owned by former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke to the Federal government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC claimed it has traced over N47.2 billion and $487.5 million in cash and properties to the former minister.

The EFCC says the above discoveries were apart from luxury pieces of jewellery in gold and diamond plus several millions of British pounds found during a search at her Abuja residence.

The Punch reports the commission stated that it discovered several landed properties all around Lagos and other parts of the country. The commission concluded that the former minister did not declare the true worth of her assets as required of public officials.

The revelation is contained in an article written by two officials of the EFCC Public Affair Directorate, Tony Orilade and Aishah Gambari.

According to the article, Diezani’s boldness in the illegal acquisition of properties was underscored by the purchase of a block of six units serviced apartments at Number 135 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, “just a few hundred metres away from the EFCC zonal operations hub.

“The apartment has a standby power generating set, sporting facilities, play ground and a water treatment plant. The property was bought at the rate of N800m on January 6, 2012.”

The anti-graft agency stated that it discovered other Diezani’s properties such as 21-mixed housing units of eight four-bedroomed apartments, two penthouse apartments of three bedrooms at No. 7, Thurnburn Street and 5, Raymond Street, Yaba, Lagos.

It said, “The Raymond Street property is made up of two en-suite two-bedroomed apartments and one four-bedroomed apartment.

“The Yaba, Lagos properties, which dug a deep hole of an eye-popping N1bn, were paid for on May 30, 2012. The same day Alison-Madueke splashed N900m on a Port Harcourt estate.

“In Lekki Phase One, an upscale neighbourhood of Lagos, operatives found a twin four-bedroomed duplex. The duplex is located on Plot 33, Block 112, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme Phase 1, Lekki, Lagos, with an estimated value of over N200m.

“Also in Lagos, a large expanse of land at Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos has also been traced to the former Petroleum Resources Minister. The land, which is located in Oniru Chieftaincy Family Private Estate, Lekki peninsular, Lagos and currently being utilised as a dumping site, was bought on February 16, 2012, for N135m.”

“Plot 8, Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, another property traced to Alison-Madueke, is a penthouse on the 11th Floor in the Block B Wing of the building. It was bought for N12m on December 20, 2011.

“On Plot 10, Frederick Chiluba Close, in the serene, upscale Asokoro district of Abuja, lies a tastefully-built and finished duplex. In the compound, there are also a Guest Chalet, Boys’ Quarters, an elegant swimming pool, fully-equipped sports gym and a host of other amenities. Investigators have discovered that the property was acquired by the ex-minister in December 2009, at the cost of N400m but it was never declared in any of the asset declaration forms filed by Alison-Madueke.

“Also linked to the former Minister in Abuja is a mini estate at Mabushi, Abuja. The estate located on Plot 1205, Cadastral Zone B06, Mabushi Gardens Estate, houses 13 three-bedroomed terraced houses, each with one bedroom en-suite maid’s quarters.  It was purchased on April 2, 2012, at the princely sum of N650m.

“In Aso Drive, Maitama, Abuja, Alison-Madueke reportedly acquired a six-bedroomed en-suite apartment made up of three large living rooms, two-bedroomed guest chalets, two-bedroomed Boys Quarters, two lock-up garages and a car park. It was bought on July 20, 2011, for N80m.