The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
Monday said it will not respond to the former Minister of Petroleum Resources,
Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, over her repudiation of the millions of dollars
and properties allegedly traced and linked to her as proceeds of corruption in
the course of her tenure as a minister.
The EFCC had
through a Federal High Court in Lagos obtained a forfeiture order for about
$153.3 million and/or of its naira equivalent, including properties in Lagos,
Yenagoa and Abuja running into millions of dollars allegedly belonging to
Alison-Madueke.
But Alison-Madueke, who served as a minister under
the Yar’Adua-Jonathan administration, had last week challenged the EFCC to
provide evidence linking her to the said illicit funds and properties.
She argued that “in the face of the obvious
falsification of facts and misinformation, it is only right and proper that the
EFCC should provide the details of the $153.3 million lodgement, the bank
account numbers and the account beneficiaries, showing proof of my link to
them”.
“Having also alleged that the said $153.3 million
was ‘wired’ from the NNPC, the EFCC should also publish the details of the NNPC
account from where the said $153.3 million was taken, and with proof that I
authorised such a transaction,” she had challenged the EFCC.
Alison-Madueke had also queried the EFCC over
properties located in Yenagoa, the Asokoro part of Abuja and Lagos purportedly
linked to her.
On the Yenagoa properties, she contended that the
said assets had already been declared in the asset declaration form for the
Code of Conduct Bureau as a constitutional requirement before her assumption of
office as a minister.
The former minister then accused the EFCC of
peddling lies and propaganda, all in an effort to convict her before the court
of public opinion.
But speaking to THISDAY Monday, EFCC Head of Media
and Information Wilson Uwujaren said the commission would not join issues with
Alison-Madueke, as it will not be in the best interest of ongoing investigations
on the matter.
Uwujaren told THISDAY that her denial of ownership
of the said funds and properties was immaterial, given that the time for such
grandstanding had already elapsed.
“When we advertised the $35 million and the
properties for two weeks, where was she then?” he asked.
“The court has decided on the matter, there is no
response to it. The matter is still under investigation and we have not
finished the investigation,” Uwujaren said.
Asked about the questions raised by the former minister
on the forfeiture of the said properties in Abuja, Yenagoa and Lagos, Uwujaren
declined to comment and advised Alison-Madueke to head to court to defend
herself.
News
Source: - This Day | August 15, 2017.
Photo Source: - Information Nigeria | July 21, 2017.
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