First Bank exec demands N9bn from seized $153m allegedly stolen by ex-minister

dimeji akinloye

January 25, 2017 6:09 AM

Justice Muslim Hassan had ordered the temporary forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government.

Nigeria’s former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The funds, which was linked to former minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, was forfeited to the Federal Government.

The bank's Executive Director, Public Sector Accountant, Mr. Dauda Lawal on Tuesday, January 24, approached the Federal High Court in Lagos with a counter-affidavit, seeking to take possession of $40 million (N9.08 bn) out of the £153 million.

Lawal, through his counsel, Mr. Charles Adeogun, admitted that he received $25 million out of the money for certain services he rendered, but he said the EFCC arrested him and forced him to return $65 million.

The Commission has since taken possession of the $40 million in draft and registered it as exhibit EFCC 03.

The anti-graft agency had alleged that Diezani siphoned $153 million out of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and stashed it in three banks.

Justice Muslim Hassan had on January 6 granted the EFCC an interim order for the funds to be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government.

Arguing the legitimacy of the money on Tuesday, Adeogun said the EFCC coerced his client to admit receiving a total $65 million.

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He prayed the court to order the commission to release the excess $40 million to Lawal.

Adeogun said: "We became aware of the forfeiture order when the interim order was served on us. My client was never confronted with these sets of facts during his incarceration at the EFCC.

"After service of the orders, I requested the statement of my client to the Commission, but the same was never given to me."

The EFCC, however, insisted that Diezani laundered the $153 million and that Lawal and others played vital roles in the alleged crime.

"My Lord, paragraph 4 of our reply affidavit shows a meeting of the minds of one Gbenga Komolafe, former Group MD, Crude Oil Marketing Division, NNPC; Prince Harna Momoh, a former Group MD, Petroleum Product Marketing Company; mar Farouk Ahmed, Group MD, Nigerian Product Marketing Company; as well as Dauda Lawal, to launder the funds on behalf of the former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke," EFCC lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo said.

"It will amount to contesting the obvious for Lawal to argue that he had no knowledge of the said sums."

Oyedepo denied Lawal's claim that he was coerced to write the state statement.

"So, having freely volunteered a statement, he cannot urge My Lord not to attach full probative value to his statement.

"I submit that the appropriate order in the circumstance is for the court to order a final forfeiture of the sum of N9.08 billion already surrendered by the respondent to the Federal Government. I urge the court to do so," the lawyer added.

Justice Lawal fixed February 16, 2017 for judgment.

Oyedepo denied Lawal's claim that he was coerced to write the state statement.

"So, having freely volunteered a statement, he cannot urge My Lord not to attach full probative value to his statement.

I submit that the appropriate order in the circumstance is for the court to order a final forfeiture of the sum of N9.08 billion already surrendered by the respondent to the Federal Government. I urge the court to do so," the lawyer added.

Justice Lawal fixed February 16, 2017 for judgment.

dimeji akinloye