The Abuja Court of Appeal on Friday affirmed the permanent confiscation of properties seized from Kola Aluko, an ally of Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former oil minister.
the Commission of Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) valued one of the confiscated properties in Abuja at $18 million.
A federal judge, Okon Abang, in January 2020, granted an EFCC request for final forfeiture of assets traced to Mr. Aluko.
The anti-corruption agency, in the forfeiture request, said the $18 million building located in Abuja, which is “very close to the seat of power in the Presidential Villa, is made up of a guest house, children’s rooms, post security, swimming pool and Underground Control Room for remote control of the building’s appliances.
“The property is furnished with very expensive and luxury items,” EFCC added.
The other five properties include Plot 1390 Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, Lagos and Plot 1391, Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, popularly called Avenue Towers.
The final asset forfeiture order was preceded by an earlier interim order issued by Mr. Abang in 2016.
Judgment of the Court of Appeal
Delivering its verdict on Friday, a three-man Court of Appeal panel led by Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu held that Mr Aluko’s appeal against the confiscation of his property was without merit.
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Ms Williams-Dawodu, who delivered the main judgement, agreed with the argument of EFCC lawyer Victor Ukagwu that Mr Abang of the Abuja Federal High Court was correct in ordering the confiscation of the estate of the Mr. Aluko to the federal government.
Mr. Aluko in his appeal marked: CA/A/617/2020, challenged the trial court’s decision in January 2020.
Although Ms. Alison-Madueke fled Nigeria for the UK in 2015, shortly after leaving government, the EFCC continued to seize various assets of her associates that were the proceeds of the former minister’s alleged theft of public funds.