By Opeyemi Adelakun
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, permission to present documents relating to her acquittal by a United Kingdom court in her ongoing legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the ruling on Wednesday after granting an application filed by the former minister seeking leave to submit fresh evidence arising from her discharge by the Southwark Crown Court in London.
The application was moved by her counsel, Godwin Iyinbor, while the EFCC, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mofesomo Oyetibo, did not oppose the request.
The case stems from Diezani’s challenge to the forfeiture of assets linked to her, which were subsequently listed for public auction by the anti-graft agency. She is seeking to recover the assets, arguing that the EFCC violated her rights by proceeding without due process.
Her suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, lists the EFCC as the sole respondent.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, both parties informed the court that they had regularised their court filings before Diezani’s legal team sought permission to file a further affidavit.
According to her lawyers, the application became necessary following her acquittal by the Southwark Crown Court on June 17, 2026, in a criminal bribery case in the United Kingdom.
They argued that the judgment constitutes a material development that should be considered in determining the case before the Nigerian court.
Although the EFCC noted that the application could prolong the proceedings, its counsel told the court the commission would not oppose the request.
Justice Ekwo subsequently granted the application and adjourned the matter until October 6, when both the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the substantive suit will be heard together.
In court documents, Diezani’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), argued that the core issue before the court is whether the EFCC lawfully confiscated and moved to dispose of her assets without first securing a criminal conviction or complying with the legal requirements governing asset forfeiture.
He maintained that the UK court’s decision strengthens her argument on fair hearing, due process and the legality of permanently depriving an individual of property without a conviction.
According to the senior lawyer, the foreign judgment is not intended to override Nigerian judicial proceedings but to place before the court a significant development that occurred after the initial filings in the case.
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