Diezani, Ex-Minister, Others Top Dubai Assets List

The others are: a former Managing Director of the defunct Oceanic Bank, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed and his son, Shamsudeen.


Scarcely two weeks after the consenting to of six arrangements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Federal Government has started moves to seize resources of a previous Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and four others in Dubai.

The others are: a previous Managing Director of the ancient Oceanic Bank, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, a previous Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed and his child, Shamsudeen.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has followed eight decision resources for Mrs. Ibru and two to Mrs. Diezani.

Despite the fact that the ex-FCT Minister and his child are on the Federal Government's rundown, their Dubai houses are yet to be recorded. The examination is on.

The profiling of the associated resources with more than 25 Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) is progressing.

The EFCC has done "extensive knowledge deal with the advantages of Diezani and some of her business relates", a source disclosed to The Nation on Sunday.

The source stated: "After due determination by the EFCC, the Federal Government has just arranged a rundown of first bunch of suspects with houses in Dubai, whose benefits should be connected.

"They are a previous Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; a previous Managing Director of the dead Oceanic Bank, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru and a previous Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed and his child, Shamsudeen.

"The legislature will soon formally apply to the UAE for the seizure of the benefits followed to these Nigerians.

"Regardless of the way that numerous benefits were said to be professedly possessed by Mrs. Ibru, just eight decision houses has been recognized by the EFCC.

"Mrs. Diezani has two flats, including the one set apart as J5 Emirates Hills (30 million Dirham) and another labeled E146 Emirates Hills, esteemed at 44million Dirham."

Reacting to an inquiry, the source included: "The EFCC is profiling more than 25 PEPs in view of the tremendous database from the UAE.

Some of these advantages are in Emirates Hills, Marina, Jumeira, Bur Dubai in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE. "We are yet to concentrate on plundered assets reserved in the Emirates," the source said.

On the consideration of the ex-FCT pastor and his child, the source included: "This depends on insight report. We will update you as often as possible on the result of their presumed resources in Dubai. Our own is to make their names accessible for examination by the UAE.

"Indeed, even the individuals who purchased houses through intermediaries can be distinguished."

Following a state visit to the UAE by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 19, 2016 , the Federal Government went into six concurrences with the Emirates.

The understandings, which were marked by President Buhari a week ago, are:

Shirking of Double Taxation Agreement;

Concession to Trade Promotion and Protection;

Legal Agreements on Extradition;

Exchange of Sentenced Persons;

Common Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters; and

Common Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters(recovery and repatriation of stolen riches).

Areas 7 of 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004 order the organization to seize suspicious resources.

Area 7 says: "The commission has energy to (a) make any examinations be directed with reference to whether any individual, corporate body or association has carried out any offense under this Act or other law identifying with monetary and money related violations.

"(b) Cause examinations to be led into the properties of any individual in the event that it appears to the commission that the individual's way of life and degree of the properties are not defended by his wellspring of pay."

Areas 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004 engage the counter join office to conjure Interim Assets Forfeiture Clause.

"Area 28 of the EFCC Act peruses: 'Where a man is captured for an offense under this Act, the Commission might instantly follow and append every one of the benefits and properties of the individual procured because of such monetary or money related wrongdoing and should from that point cause to be gotten a between time connection arrange from the Court.'

Area 13 of the Federal High Court Act peruses to a limited extent: "The Court may concede a directive or delegate a collector by an interlocutory request in all cases in which it appears to the Court to be simply or advantageous so to do.