Diezani Alison-Madueke’s denies hyperlink to $52.88 million belongings forfeited to Nigeria  

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, has alleged that the reported repatriation of $52.88 million proceeds from the forfeiture of belongings linked to former Petroleum Assets Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is an try and “tarnish her picture” and repute.

This was disclosed in Alison-Madueke’s proper of reply, issued via Mike Ozekhome Chambers, her authorized counsel.

Ozekhome, in an announcement shared on Saturday, claimed that the latest try and hyperlink her to the civil forfeiture of the yacht Galactica the sale of which reportedly yielded $52.88 million repatriated to Nigeria from america is “a mischievous and merciless sport of tarnishing her picture via a persistent cocktail of falsehoods and misinformation.”

Nairametrics beforehand reported that the Federal Authorities of Nigeria and america just lately formalized an Bargain for the repatriation of belongings linked to Alison-Madueke and her associates.

The Bargain was signed in Abuja by Nigeria’s Legal professional-Common and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills Jr.

Fagbemi emphasised that the Bargain displays Nigeria’s unwavering dedication to combating corruption, stating:

“This occasion isn’t solely a testomony to the nation’s combat towards corruption but in addition signifies the dedication of the U.S. to facilitate restitution and assist integrity and accountability in governance.   

“The signing ceremony affirms President Bola Tinubu’s resolve to construct a Nigeria free from corruption and make sure that assets are dedicated to the socio-economic growth of our nation.”   

The Legal professional-Common added that the $52.88 million might be allotted to developmental initiatives aimed toward bettering Nigeria’s socio-economic panorama.

He mentioned $50 million will fund the Rural Electrification Venture, aimed toward growing the reliability and availability of renewable vitality.

The remaining $2.88 million might be granted to the Worldwide Institute for Justice (IIJ) to assist the *Rule of Regulation and Counter-Terrorism Venture.

 Alison-Madueke Denies Involvement   

  • Reacting to the event, Ozekhome acknowledged that Diezani Alison-Madueke (DAM), the previous Minister of Petroleum Assets, was by no means concerned within the buy, use, or sale of the yacht.
  • In response to him, the Galactica was bought by Kola Aluko, who used the vessel till it was forfeited to the U.S.

 “The yacht Galactica was neither owned nor utilized by our consumer. DAM has by no means even set eyes on the yacht. Kola Aluko, an skilled businessman, had been in enterprise nicely earlier than DAM assumed workplace as Minister,” he mentioned.   

  • The lawyer argued that the one cause for linking DAM to the yacht was the alleged false narrative that the Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) between Kola Aluko, Jide Omokore’s Atlantic Power, and the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Company (NNPC) had been corruptly awarded by her.

 “DAM was not the GMD of the NNPC and couldn’t have awarded the mentioned contracts,” he added.   

  • He additional cited a Nigerian court docket judgment in Cost No. FHC/ABJ/CR/121/2016: Federal Republic of Nigeria vs Olajide Omokore & Others, which established that the SAAs between NNPC and Atlantic Power had been validly entered into and adopted due course of.

 “The businesses and their chairman had been discharged and acquitted of all costs regarding acquiring the contracts or laundering proceeds from them,” Ozekhome acknowledged.   

  • He accused detractors of intentionally attaching Alison-Madueke’s identify to the recovered yacht to tarnish her repute.
  • Ozekhome famous that Alison-Madueke was charged in a UK court docket on October 2, 2023, after being beneath investigation for over eight years.
  • He urged stakeholders to make sure a good listening to and permit the UK court docket to conclude proceedings with out prejudice.

Extra Insights   

The U.S. Division of Justice disclosed that the forfeited belongings had been a part of an investigation by the Kleptocracy Asset Restoration Initiative, a unit focusing on proceeds of international official corruption.

In response to court docket paperwork, from 2011 to 2015, referenced by the US authorities, Nigerian businessmen Kolawole Akanni Aluko and Olajide Omokore allegedly paid bribes to Alison-Madueke, who used her affect to award profitable oil contracts to their corporations.

 “Proceeds from the scheme, exceeding $100 million, had been laundered via the U.S. and used to accumulate belongings, together with luxurious actual property in California and New York, in addition to the Galactica Star, a 65-meter superyacht. These belongings had been forfeited because of corruption, bribery, cash laundering, and different unlawful acts,” the Justice Division mentioned.   

The division acknowledged Nigeria’s essential help within the investigations, which included offering in depth evidentiary assist.

In the meantime, the previous minister faces a number of pending instances in Nigeria.

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