A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of 56 houses allegedly bought for $16,441,906 (N2.6billion) by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Justice Abdulaziz Anka, a vacation judge, made the order following an ex parte application by a counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Anselem Ozioko.
The EFCC, in documents filed in court, described the properties as including 29 terraced houses, 21 mixed housing units, six flats, six apartments, two maisonettes among others, in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.
Ozioko persuaded Justice Anka that Diezani paid $16,441,906 cash for the properties through several shell companies from the proceeds of suspected unlawful activity during her tenure as minister.
The $16,441,906 was allegedly picked up from her house by bank officials via a pick-up service.