EFCC asks court to disregard Diezani’s UK acquittal in asset forfeiture case

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

The commission made the request in a further counter-affidavit filed on October 5 in opposition to Diezani’s application seeking to place the UK judgment before the Nigerian court as a subsequent development in the case.

Diezani was acquitted by the Southwark Crown Court in London on June 17, 2026, of bribery allegations brought against her by UK authorities.

The former minister is challenging, among other things, an EFCC public notice for the auction and sale of properties and personal effects which she contends infringes on her proprietary rights.

She subsequently asked the Federal High Court to admit evidence of her UK acquittal, arguing that it was a material development that occurred after she filed her earlier court processes.

However, in the counter-affidavit, Oyakhilome Ekienabor, a litigation officer in the law firm of Mofesomo Oyetibo, counsel to the EFCC, argued that the UK proceedings had no bearing on the substantive case before the Nigerian court.

“The proceedings before the Southwark Crown Court, London, United Kingdom, and the purported acquittal of the applicant therein, are in respect of a proceeding that is not being prosecuted before any Nigerian court and have nothing to do with the substantive suit before this honourable court,” he stated in a report by TheCable.

The EFCC also disputed any suggestion that the forfeiture proceedings covered all of Diezani’s assets.