Ex-Petroleum Minister Diezani’s Suit Against EFCC Over Forfeited Assets Adjourned To Jan 2027
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a high-profile legal battle instituted by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, over assets forfeited to the Federal Government and subsequently auctioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The case, which seeks to challenge the commission’s decision to sell the properties, was adjourned until January 26, 2027, by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
The adjournment followed a request by Diezani’s newly appearing lawyer, Eko-Ejembi Eko, SAN, who told the court that he needed more time to familiarise himself with the case file and prepare adequately for the proceedings.
Eko explained that he was handling the matter for the first time and consequently requested an adjournment to enable him to study the records before the case could proceed.
The EFCC’s lawyer, Paul Mgbeoma, did not oppose the application.
After considering the request and the position of both parties, Justice Ekwo granted the adjournment and fixed January 26, 2027, for further mention.
The former minister instituted the suit to challenge the EFCC’s auction of properties that had previously been forfeited to the Federal Government.
In the originating motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, filed on January 6, 2023, Diezani identified the EFCC as the sole respondent.
She initially approached the court seeking an extension of time to obtain permission to challenge the commission’s public notice announcing the auction of her seized assets.
The EFCC had scheduled the auction to take place between January 9 and January 13, 2023.
However, in her amended application, Diezani is asking the court to nullify the public notice under which the auction was conducted.
Beyond seeking to invalidate the auction, she is also asking the court to compel the EFCC to recover the properties from the individuals and corporate organisations that purchased them.
Her request, therefore, raises a significant legal question about whether assets already sold to third-party buyers can be recovered if the court eventually rules in her favour.
The legal battle has also been complicated by disagreements between Diezani and the EFCC over the relevance of proceedings before the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom.
On July 1, Justice Ekwo granted an application by the former minister seeking to introduce evidence relating to what she described as her acquittal by the London court.
However, the EFCC strongly opposed the move, arguing that the alleged foreign court acquittal had no direct relevance to the issues before the Nigerian court.
In a further counter-affidavit, the commission urged the court to dismiss Diezani’s request, maintaining that the outcome of criminal proceedings in a foreign jurisdiction did not determine the legality of the auction and disposal of the forfeited properties in Nigeria.
According to the EFCC, the matter before the Federal High Court concerns the challenge to the auction process and the disposal of the assets, not the determination of criminal allegations handled by a foreign court.
With the latest adjournment, the legal battle remains unresolved, as the court has yet to determine whether the EFCC’s auction notice should be set aside or whether the properties sold to third parties should be recovered.
Wednesday’s proceedings did not address the substantive issues in the case. Instead, the adjournment was granted to allow Diezani’s new lawyer sufficient time to review the case records and prepare for the next stage of the proceedings.
The matter is now scheduled to return to the Federal High Court in Abuja on January 26, 2027, for further mention.
