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Diezani’s suit challenging sale of assets by EFCC stalled over judge’s absence

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A suit filed by the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to challenge an order obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for final forfeiture of her seized assets, was stalled yesterday at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The matter, which was before Justice Inyang Ekwo, was fixed for further mention in the day’s cause list.

But the case could not proceed because the court did not sit.

Justice Ekwo was said to be attending a seminar at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.

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The matter was subsequently fixed for November 21.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ex-minister had, through her counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), sued the anti-graft agency as sole respondent.

Alison-Madueke had sought an order extending the time to seek leave to apply to the court for an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice issued to conduct a public sale on her property.

In the motion dated and filed on January 6, 2023, by her lawyer, the former minister sought five orders from the court.

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The former minister, who argued that the various orders were made without jurisdiction, said these “ought to be set aside ex debito justitiae” (from or as a debt of justice).

Alison-Madueke alleged that she was not given a fair hearing in the proceedings leading to the orders.

“The various court orders issued in favour of the respondent and upon which the respondent issued the public notice were issued in breach of the applicant’s right to fair hearing, as guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as altered, and other similar constitutional provisions,” she said.

The former minister argued that she was neither served with the charge sheet and proof of evidence in any of the charges nor with any other summons on the criminal charges pending against her before the court.

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She also argued that the courts were misled into making several final forfeiture orders against her assets through suppression or non-disclosure of material facts.

“The several applications upon which the courts made the final order of forfeiture against the applicant were obtained upon gross misstatements, misrepresentations, non-disclosure, concealment and suppression of material facts, and this honourable court has the power to set aside same ex debito justitiae, as a void order is as good as if it was never made at all.

“The orders were made without recourse to the constitutional right to fair hearing and right to property accorded the applicant by the constitution.”

“The applicant was never served with the processes of court in all the proceedings that led to the order of final forfeiture,” she said, among other grounds given.

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But in a counter-affidavit deposed to by a detective with the commission, Mr. Rufai Zaki, the EFCC urged the court to dismiss her application.

Zaki, a member of the team that investigated a case of criminal conspiracy, official corruption and money laundering against the ex-minister and some other persons involved in the case, said the investigation clearly showed that she was involved in some acts of criminality.

“We hereby rely on the charge, dated November 14, 2018, filed before this honourable court and also attached as Exhibit C in the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

The EFCC operative said most of the depositions in Alison-Madueke’s suit were untrue.

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He added that contrary to her deposition in the affidavit filed in support of the suit, most of the cases, which led to the final forfeiture of the contested property “were action in rem, same was heard at various times and determined by this honourable court”.

Zaki said the courts ordered the commission to do a newspaper publication inviting parties to show cause why the named property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government before the final orders were made.

The EFCC operative named Nnamdi Awa Kalu as representing the ex-minister in reaction to one of the forfeiture applications.

“We humbly rely on the judgment of Justice I. L. N. Oweibo, dated September 10, 2019, shown in Exhibit C of the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

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Zaki explained that contrary to her argumnet, the final forfeiture of the assets, which were subject of the present application, was ordered by the court in 2017 and that it was not set aside or upturned on appeal.

According to him, the properties have been disposed of through due process of law.

NAN recalls that Justice Ekwo had, on June 21, 2023, fixed October 23, 2023 for hearing of the suit

The judge had fixed the date after a lawyer who appeared for Alison-Madueke, Benson Igbanoi, and EFCC’s counsel, M. D. Baraya, regularised their processes in the suit.

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The anti-corruption agency had planned to conduct a public sale of all the assets seized for being proceeds of crime, as ordered by courts, to be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The auctioning, conducted on the seized assets believed to include Alison-Madueke’s property, started on January 9, 2023.

The suspended EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa had revealed that $153 million and over 80 properties had been recovered from the ex-minister.

Alison-Madueke was alleged to have escaped to the United Kingdom (UK) and remained there after her exit from public office as the Petroleum Minister, an office she held between 2010 and 2015 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

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The asset-related suit is different from the one she also filed to seek N100 billion as compensation for a series of EFCC’s alleged libelous publications against her.

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OAU Student Murder: Nigerian Appeal Court Upholds Hotel Owner Adedoyin’s Death Sentence

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This decision comes after Adedoyin appealed the Osun State High Court’s ruling, which found him guilty of murdering Timothy Adegoke, a postgraduate student at Obafemi Awolowo University.

The Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, has upheld the death sentence of Ramon Adedoyin, the owner of Hilton Hotels in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

This decision comes after Adedoyin appealed the Osun State High Court’s ruling, which found him guilty of murdering Timothy Adegoke, a postgraduate student at Obafemi Awolowo University.

The appeal court had reserved its judgment on October 29, 2024, and delivered its verdict on Thursday, confirming that Adedoyin’s death sentence still stands.

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The court dismissed Adedoyin’s appeal and held that the hotel owner “was properly convicted and sentenced to death”.

SaharaReporters had broken the story about the death of Timothy Adegoke and also reported the arrest of Adedoyin after the student’s lifeless body was discovered in November 2021 at the Hilton Honours Hotel in Ile-Ife.

The hotel is owned by Ramon Adedoyin.

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Shock At Bowen Varsity As Student Dies Amidst Unexplained Attack

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The management of Bowen University Community in Ogun State in Southwestern Nigeria, has announced the sudden death of a student of the College of Management and Social Sciences of the university who is suspected to have been attacked.

The university which announced the death of the student in a circular issued on Thursday by its registrar, B. T. Adetona, said the male student whose identity has not been disclosed died on Wednesday night.

“It is with deep sorrow that the Management of Bowen University announces the tragic passing of one of our students in the College of Management and Social Sciences under unfortunate circumstances last night, Wednesday, 22 January 2025,” part of the circular read.

According to the circular, it was at about 8:20 PM, on Wednesday that a member of staff and some students while on their way to one of the hostels in the university discovered the student running towards the staff quarters, where he suddenly collapsed and hit his head against the pavement.

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Adetona stated, “Upon closer inspection, it was evident that he had sustained a wound in his abdominal region prior to the fall.

“The university’s security officers stationed near the power sub-station and the generator house/staff quarters reported that they neither saw nor heard any sign of an altercation during this time.

“The student was immediately rushed to the university hospital by ambulance. Upon further examination, the medical team, led by the Director of Health Services, discovered additional bruises around his neck, indicative of a struggle or defensive wounds.

“Despite the concerted efforts of the doctors and nurses, he passed away in the late hours of last night.”

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The Registrar stated that in the aftermath of the incident, it has been established that the student sustained an injury to his abdominal region while on his way to the hostel.

Also, it was noted that his “last contact was with a friend at the old site of the campus”.

The statement said, “His last communication, at 8:01 PM, was with the same known contact, informing her that he had not yet reached his hostel. She had instructed him to notify her as soon as he arrived, but no further message was received.

“He was found at the staff quarters at approximately 8:20 PM, after the communication with the known contact.

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“His personal effects, such as his phone, footwear, cap, and power bank, were discovered strewn along the road between the power sub-station and the staff quarters.

“Those who last saw him have provided accounts of his movements to assist Management and the authorities in piecing together a timeline of events.”

He said that the incident has been reported to the Visitor to the University and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, and that the student’s family has been contacted and informed of the devastating news.

“We are working closely with the police and intelligence team that arrived on the scene of the discovery last night to uncover the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. Further updates will be shared as new information becomes available.

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“In his honour, Management has decided to put a hold on the ongoing examinations. Examinations will resume on Monday, 27 January 2025.

“As a community, let us keep the family and friends of the deceased in our thoughts and prayers during this challenging time.

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Ogun Revamps Technical Colleges To Equip Students For Global Competitiveness

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The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, has said that the ongoing rehabilitation of technical colleges across the state is meant to attract more students to technical education.

He stated that the move would also enable them to compete favorably with their counterparts across the country and contribute significantly to closing the skills gap nationwide.

Prof. Arigbabu made this statement during the inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation of Government Technical Colleges at Idiaba and Isabo, Abeokuta, respectively.

Expressing satisfaction with the level and quality of work done so far, the Commissioner noted that the rehabilitation of the structures would, in no small measure, contribute to the learning skills of students.

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He added that the upgraded facilities would enhance practical learning, foster creativity, and provide a conducive environment for academic excellence.

Prof. Arigbabu disclosed that the revamped technical colleges, apart from helping to attract more students to technical education, would also increase their employability and prepare them for entrepreneurial opportunities in various industries.

In an interview with some of the female students at the college, the Commissioner urged beneficiaries of the Ogun Girls TVET scholarship to make the best use of the opportunity.

His counterpart at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Hon. Adebola Sofela, commended the Ogun State Government for its foresight in prioritizing technical education.

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He emphasized that the initiative aligns with the government’s vision of producing a skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of both local and international markets.

Mr. Sofela further noted that the intervention would strengthen the link between education and industry, ensuring students are equipped with relevant skills for today’s dynamic economy.

The ongoing rehabilitation is part of OGSTEP’s commitment to improving the economic livelihoods of the people through strategic interventions in education and skills development.

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