EFCC Denies Disobeying Court Order on Abuja Property Linked to Diezani

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied allegations that it disobeyed a court order regarding a property located at No. 6, Aso Drive, Asokoro, Abuja, reportedly linked to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

In a statement on Sunday, the Commission described recent reports suggesting that it acted in contempt of court as misleading and unfounded. The EFCC explained that it had obtained a valid court order on March 27, 2025, granting it possession of the property after it was forfeited to the Federal Government on the grounds that it was acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

The anti-graft agency dismissed claims that it unlawfully evicted Chief Ikechi Emenike, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), from the premises.

According to the EFCC, Emenike had no valid tenancy agreement and had not paid rent on the property for over a decade.

The Commission further stated that the forfeiture order legally transferred ownership and possession to the federal government, and its enforcement of that order was within the limits of the law.

The Commission also clarified that its application to the court was made ex parte and based on verifiable evidence linking the property to illicit financial activity.

It stated that there was no misrepresentation of facts before Justice Liman, who granted the forfeiture and possession orders.

The EFCC emphasized that the Right of First Refusal being claimed by Chief Emenike does not apply because the government has not put the property up for sale or lease.

The EFCC warned against attempts to mislead the public and undermine its mandate. It said the operation at the property was not an act of contempt but the execution of a legal court order obtained through due process.

Chief Emenike, however, has maintained that he has a lawful claim to the property and alleged that the EFCC’s actions amounted to forceful eviction without legal basis. He is reportedly considering legal steps to challenge the Commission’s possession of the property.

The property in question is one of several linked to Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is currently facing multiple corruption investigations in Nigeria and abroad.

The EFCC reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law in all its operations.