EFCC Challenges Relevance of Diezani’s UK Acquittal in Asset Forfeiture Case

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has challenged the relevance of former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke’s recent acquittal in the United Kingdom to proceedings over the forfeiture of her assets in Nigeria.

 In a further counter-affidavit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the commission urged Justice Inyang Ekwo to disregard Diezani’s attempt to introduce the June 17, 2026 Southwark Crown Court judgment into her Nigerian case.

 Diezani had asked the court to admit the UK judgment as a subsequent material development, arguing that her acquittal was relevant to questions surrounding conviction, fair hearing, due process and the propriety of depriving her of property.

 Her counsel, Mike Ozekhome, maintained that she was not asking the Nigerian court to sit on appeal over the UK decision or treat it as automatically conclusive, but that the judgment should be considered as a material development arising after earlier court processes were filed.

 The EFCC, however, maintained that the UK proceedings had no bearing on the substantive issues before the Nigerian court. It also argued that the forfeiture order in question relates specifically to jewellery and does not extend to other categories of assets or properties.

 The commission further contended that Diezani’s supplementary affidavit introduced irrelevant matters and diverted attention from the issues before the court.

 The court has adjourned the matter until November 11 for hearing of the pending motions.

  Compliance Takeaway…

A foreign acquittal does not automatically determine a domestic asset-forfeiture proceeding. The case underscores the importance of jurisdiction, due process, evidentiary relevance and strict adherence to the legal basis for asset seizure and forfeiture.

 For enforcement agencies, the compliance test is clear: asset recovery must remain anchored to valid court orders, statutory safeguards and demonstrable procedural fairness.