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 Court orders forfeiture of 56 houses linked to Diezani

Dreamers2202/today



Oladimeji Ramon

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the temporary forfeiture of 56 houses linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The houses, located in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt, were said to have been acquired by the ex-minister between 2011 and 2013 using front companies.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission claimed that Diezani paid $21,982,224 for the properties, adding that it believed that the funds were proceeds of crime.

The anti-graft agency listed the properties to include 29 terraced houses comprising eight four-bedroomed penthouse apartments, six three-bedroomed apartments, two three-bedroomed maisonettes, two twin bedroomed apartments and one four-bedroom apartment.

The houses, located at No. 7, Thurnbull Street and 5, Raymond Street, Yaba, were allegedly bought by Diezani for the United States dollar equivalent of N937,000,000 through Chapel Properties Ltd.

Others seized houses are 16 four-bedroomed terraced houses in Heritage Court Estate, Plot 2C, Omerelu Street, Diobu, Government Residential Area (GRA) Phase 1 extension, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, purchased for N928,000,000 through Blue Nile Estate Ltd.

The properties also include 13 three-bedroomed terraced houses with one-room maid’s quarters ensuite for N650,000,000 through Azinga Meadows Ltd.

In an ex parte application brought before Justice Abdulaziz Anka on Tuesday by its counsel, Mr. Anselem Ozioko, the EFCC urged the judge to order the temporary forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.

The judge granted the temporary forfeiture order and directed that a firm should be appointed to manage the properties.

He also ordered the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper and adjourned till September 8, 2017 for any party interested in the property to appear before the court to state why the temporary forfeiture order should not be made permanent.

Listed as first to sixth respondents in the suit are Diezani, Donald Amamgbo, and four firms – Chapel Properties Limited; Blue Nile Estate Limited; Azinga Meadows Limited; and Vistapoint Property Development Limited.

Ozioko told the court that Diezani used the companies as fronts for the acquisition of the properties, adding that the anti-graft agency had discovered 14 other firms incorporated for the ex-minister for the purpose of holding the titles to those properties.

Diezani, he added, purchased the properties from the proceeds of suspected unlawful activity during her tenure as minister.

In an affidavit filed in support of the ex parte application, an EFCC investigator, Mr. Sombori Mayana, said the EFCC got winds of the properties in 2016 following the execution of a search warrant on the office and premises of Amamgbo, said be Diezani’s acquaintance.
The investigator averred, “Among the documents recovered from the office of Mr.Donald Chidi Amamgbo was an undated report titled ‘HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY EOTK PRODUCT – AUGUST REPORT’

“The report contained a list of 18 companies and several properties located in the United Kingdom, Nigeria and the United States of America.

“During the course of his interview, Mr. Donald Amamgbo told us that he registered the 18 companies to assist Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke in holding titles of the properties.”

Mayana averred that a principal manager and head, business development of FBN Mortgages Ltd, Mrs. Bolanle Onotu, confirmed that the properties were sold by her organisation to Diezani’s alleged four proxy firms for N937m, N928m and N650m and received payment through First Bank account numbers 2004483850 and 2008133531 between September 23, 2011, and June 16, 2015.

“First Bank of Nigeria Plc stated that the source of the money was from Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke and that the bank picked up United States dollars from her house at 10, Frederick Chiluba Close off Jose Marti Street, Asokoro, Abuja,” Mayana added.

He said a total of $16,041,906 was picked up by the bank at Diezani’s house between September 29, 2011, and April 4, 2013, and converted to Naira.

According to Mayana, another firm, Adebern Parks Nigeria Ltd received N802,500,000 in its Zenith Bank account from an Ecobank account for the purchase of some of the properties.

One Mr Adeyemi Edun “received the sum of N840,000,000 from Skye Bank Plc which on his instruction transferred the sum of N805,000,000 to his Eco Bank account from where he paid Adebern Parks for the property.”


 $823m Abuja metro rail ready by December – Contractor


Dreamers2202/today



Adelani Adepegba, Abuja

Civil Engineering Construction Corporation has said that the phase one of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit projects would be ready by December 2017.

The Project Manager, Mr Kong Tao, stated this while speaking with newsmen who were on tour to the site at Idu, Abuja on Tuesday.

Tao said that the rail transit which cost $823m, (about N299bn) consists of lot 1A and lot 3 covering a length of 45km with 12 designed passenger stations.

He said, “The rail linked the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to the Central Business District.

“The line of the rail mass transit is double-track line of right side running, and standard-gauge is 1435mm; Work on the large scale project is going on smoothly.”

According to him it will be test-run by November and will be inaugurated for public use in December.

He said that the project, after completion, would generate employment and boost the commercial activities of the host communities.

Tao said, “Abuja rail mass transit project is bound to accelerate the growth of national economy.

”The realisation of this large scale project will definitely deliver many benefits to the general public, such as better investment environment,

”It will also enhance better living condition, more employment, land value enhancement, energy saving and greater social responsibility.”

He expressed concern on the vandalism of the rail facilities and equipment of the company.

“Despite the presence of security personnel thieves still operate on a weekly basis,” he said.

He lamented that the host communities often destroyed the perimeter fencing built to prevent trespassing on the rail track.

 Lagos to commence Eid-Kabir sales of Lake Rice

The Lagos State Government is set to commence sales of Lake Rice from Thursday 24th August 2017 in various centers across the State to ensure there is adequate supply for Muslim faithful during the forthcoming Eid-Kabir celebration.

The State Commissioner of Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, who disclosed today at Alausa, Ikeja, stated that present administration, has since inception, embarked on agricultural policies and programs that will enhance the availability of food in the State and will always remain committed to ensuring food sufficiency.

He added that the present administration will continue to ensure adequate production and a fair distribution of the rice across the State as it will be made available to the masses in the various accredited centers.

The Commissioner stated further that the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode has approved the distribution and sales of Lake rice in all the 57 Local Government Authorities and Local Council Development Authorities across the State, the Agricultural Development Area Complex Oko-oba Agege, LTV Blue Roof Complex Agidingbi, Ikeja, and other designated centers in Lagos.

He maintained that the prices for the different sizes remain the same: a 50kg bag of Lake Rice will sell for N12,000; 25kg for N6,000, and 10kg for N2,500, noting that the rice is for all Lagosians irrespective of religion or tribe.