‘N47.2bn, $487.5m traced to Diezani'

The article titled ‘Diezani Alison-Madueke: What an Appetite!’ was jointly written by Tony Orilade and Aishah Gambari of the Public Affairs Directorate of the EFCC. It detailed properties and money allegedly owned by the former minister.

The revelation is coming a day after a Federal High Court in Lagos had ordered the final forfeiture of a $37.5m (N11.75bn) property on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos allegedly owned by Diezani.

“A search of one of Alison-Madueke's palatial residences in Abuja, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, turned up boxes of gold, silver and diamond jewellery, worth several million pounds sterling. 

“Apart from the jewellery, the EFCC, Nigeria's foremost anticorruption agency, has traced N47.2 Billion and $487.5 Million in cash and properties to the former Minister of Petroleum Resources in Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

“The former minister, who has been in London since the birth of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, has however continued to deny any financial misdeed.  She insists she is being severely maligned and persecuted by the EFCC,” the article reads in part.

The spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached for comment last night.