The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has discovered a Lagos mansion worth the sum of N11.75bn allegedly belonging to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
According to the EFCC, Diezani was said to have bought the building situated in Banana Island between 2011 and 2012 at a total cost of $37.5m from the YF Construction Development and Real Estate.
Magu said: “The aggressive drive by the EFCC to recover all hidden assets of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is under investigation for corruption and money laundering, produced another breakthrough this week with the discovery of a property acquired through shell companies by the former minister at upscale Banana Island in Lagos.
“The property is a 15-storey edifice comprising 18 flats and six penthouses.
“The property was acquired by the former minister between 2011 and 2012 at a total cost of $37.5m from the developers, YF Construction Development and Real Estate. The property was allegedly acquired in the name of a shell company, Rusimpex Limited under the control of certain Mr. Afamefuna Nwokedi of Stillwaters law firm, in Lagos.”
Last year, the commission seized an $18m mansion in the Asokoro area of Abuja allegedly belonging to the ex-minister. She has, however, denied all the allegations levelled against her.
The new discovery is coming barely 24 hours after the recovery of 9.75 million dollars and 750,000 pounds from the residence of a suspect related to a former NNPC GMD in Kaduna state.
He also confirmed that N1.25 billion was recovered from a public servant and said that all the monies were recovered within two weeks.
Magu stated this in a report he presented to the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes during the 2016 budget performance appraisal and defence of 2017 budget before the committee.
He said the commission recovered N102.91 billion, 8.30 million dollars, GBP 29,155, 12,475 pounds, 117,004 Canadian dollars as proceeds of crime between January and December, 2016.
Other monies recovered during the period, he said, were 806.50 Dirham, 5,000 Francs and 2,000 Rupees.
“Out of the 37 accounts frozen/forfeited, six banks are yet to provide relevant information on the amount accrued into the suspected accounts within the period under review,’’ he said.
