The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to disregard evidence of former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke's acquittal by a United Kingdom court in a suit challenging the forfeiture of her assets. In a further counter-affidavit filed on October 5, the EFCC argued that the UK acquittal has no bearing on the issues before the Nigerian court. The anti-graft agency made this request in opposition to Diezani's application seeking to introduce the UK court's decision as evidence in the ongoing proceedings.
Diezani was acquitted on June 17, 2026, by the Southwark Crown Court in London of criminal allegations of bribery brought against her in the United Kingdom. Following the acquittal, the former minister asked the Federal High Court to allow her to present the development as a subsequent event that is relevant to her challenge against the forfeiture and proposed sale of some of her assets. Diezani is challenging an EFCC public notice concerning the auction and sale of properties and personal effects which she claims affect her proprietary rights.
The EFCC, through its litigation officer Oyakhilome Ekienabor, stated that the proceedings before the Southwark Crown Court were separate from the Nigerian proceedings and should not be introduced into the case. Ekienabor argued that the UK acquittal has no relevance to the substantive suit before the Nigerian court. The EFCC also disputed the suggestion that the forfeiture proceedings before the Nigerian court were affected by the outcome of the UK criminal case.
According to the EFCC, the relevant forfeiture order relates specifically to jewellery and does not cover other categories of assets or properties. The commission further argued that Diezani's supplementary affidavit contained facts that were irrelevant to the issues requiring determination by the court. It accused the former minister of attempting to divert the court's attention from the substantive questions before it and urged the judge to disregard the portion of her supplementary affidavit seeking to introduce evidence of the UK acquittal.
Diezani, through her counsel Mike Ozekhome, has maintained that her acquittal in the UK is a material development that occurred after she had filed her earlier court processes and should therefore be considered by the Nigerian court. Ozekhome argued that the development was relevant to questions surrounding the absence of a conviction, fair hearing, due process and the propriety of depriving his client of her property. He clarified that Diezani was not asking the Federal High Court to sit on appeal over the decision of the Southwark Crown Court.
At Tuesday's proceedings, Queen-Ubokutom Uwe, who appeared for Diezani, informed Justice Inyang Ekwo that the EFCC had served her legal team with the further counter-affidavit shortly before the hearing. Paul Mgbeoma, counsel for the EFCC, told the court that the commission was ready to proceed with the matter. Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the case until November 11 for the hearing of the pending motions.
The court is expected to determine, among other issues, whether the evidence relating to Diezani's UK acquittal can properly be introduced and considered in the Nigerian proceedings. The EFCC's request to disregard the UK acquittal is part of the ongoing legal battle between the anti-graft agency and the former minister over the forfeiture of her assets. The case has been adjourned until November 11 for further hearing.
Key points
- The EFCC has urged the Federal High Court to disregard Diezani Alison-Madueke's UK acquittal in a suit challenging the forfeiture of her assets.
- Diezani's counsel argued that her acquittal in the UK is a material development that should be considered by the Nigerian court.
- The court has adjourned the case until November 11 for the hearing of the pending motions.
