The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, permission to present evidence of her acquittal by the Southwark Crown Court in London as part of her legal challenge to recover assets forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the application on Wednesday after counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mofesomo Oyetibo (SAN), informed the court that the anti-graft agency was not opposing the request.
Diezani, through her lawyer, Godwin Iyinbor, had filed a motion seeking leave to submit a supplementary affidavit to bring the court’s attention to what she described as a significant development—her acquittal by the UK court on June 17, 2026, over bribery allegations.
The court subsequently granted the application and adjourned the matter until October 6, when both the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the substantive suit will be heard together.
The former minister is challenging the EFCC’s actions in relation to the forfeiture and planned auction of her assets in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, in which she is seeking to reclaim properties allegedly confiscated without a criminal conviction.
According to court documents filed by her lead counsel, Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the suit contests the legality of the EFCC’s public notice announcing the sale of properties linked to her, arguing that the agency violated her constitutional right to fair hearing and failed to comply strictly with the legal procedures governing asset forfeiture.
Ozekhome maintained that Diezani’s acquittal by the Southwark Crown Court is a material development that directly relates to the issues before the Nigerian court, particularly those concerning the absence of a criminal conviction, due process, and the protection of proprietary rights.
He clarified that the application was not asking the Nigerian court to adopt the UK judgment as binding or to sit on appeal over the foreign decision. Rather, he argued that the acquittal represents a fresh material fact that emerged after the suit had already been filed and should be considered in the interest of substantial justice.
Although the EFCC described the application as unnecessary, its counsel confirmed that the commission was not opposing the request, paving the way for the court to admit the additional evidence.
The case has been adjourned to October 6 for further proceedings.
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