On Monday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court granted an application by former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke to amend her suit, challenging the order obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the final forfeiture of her seized assets.
Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the request after Ms Alison-Madueke’s lawyer, Godwin Inyinbor, moved the motion, and the EFCC’s counsel, Divine Oguru, did not oppose it.
When the matter was called, Mr Inyinbor, who appeared for Ms Alison-Madueke, informed the court that they had already filed a motion to amend their originating process and the defendant had been duly served.
Mr Oguru did not object to the ex-minister’s plea to amend her suit, and the judge granted it as prayed.
The judge gave Ms Alison-Madueke five days to file and serve the amended processes and granted EFCC 14 days from the service date to respond.
The matter was then adjourned until March 17 for further mention.
On November 21, 2024, the judge had fixed today (February 17, 2025) for hearing the motion to amend the originating process.
The ex-minister had, through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome, sued the anti-graft agency as the sole respondent.
Ms Alison-Madueke, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, sought an order extending the time to seek leave to apply to the court for an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice issued to conduct a public sale on her property.
(NAN)
