EFCC Asks Court to Disregard Diezani’s UK Acquittal in Asset Forfeiture Suit

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to disregard former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke’s acquittal by a United Kingdom court in her ongoing suit challenging the forfeiture of her assets.

The commission made the request in a further counter-affidavit filed in opposition to Diezani’s application seeking to rely on the UK judgment as fresh evidence in the Nigerian proceedings.

Diezani was acquitted by the Southwark Crown Court in London on June 17, 2026, after facing bribery-related criminal allegations in the UK. She subsequently sought to present the acquittal before the Federal High Court as a subsequent development relevant to her challenge against the forfeiture and proposed sale of assets linked to her.

However, the EFCC argued that the UK proceedings had no bearing on the issues before the Nigerian court.

In the counter-affidavit filed on October 5, the commission maintained that the Southwark Crown Court proceedings were conducted in a different jurisdiction and were unrelated to the substantive suit before the Federal High Court.

The EFCC also disputed the scope of the forfeiture order being challenged by Diezani, saying it related specifically to jewellery and did not extend to other categories of assets or properties.

The commission further argued that Diezani’s supplementary affidavit introduced irrelevant facts and could divert the court from the issues already before it.

Diezani’s legal team, however, had argued that her acquittal was a material development because it occurred after earlier processes in the Nigerian case had been filed.

Her lawyers maintained that the development was relevant to issues including conviction, fair hearing, due process and the legality of steps taken to deprive her of property.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, challenges, among other things, an EFCC public notice concerning the auction and sale of properties and personal effects allegedly affecting Diezani’s proprietary rights.

Justice Inyang Ekwo had earlier granted Diezani permission to file additional evidence relating to the UK proceedings after the EFCC initially indicated that it would not oppose the application.

The court has now fixed November 11, 2026, for hearing of the pending applications.