- Nigeria to receive $52.88 million in recovered assets linked to former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke
- $50 million of the funds will be directed to rural electrification projects via the World Bank
- $2 million will go to the International Institute of Justice to support Nigeria's justice and anti-corruption efforts
The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to receive $52.88 million in recovered assets linked to former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke from the United States of America.
The announcement was made by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, during a formal signing ceremony in Abuja on Friday, January 10.
FG to fund rural electrification project with $50 million
“This marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between Nigeria and the United States to combat corruption and uphold the rule of law,” Fagbemi stated.
Fagbemi disclosed that $50 million of the recovered funds would be channelled through the World Bank for rural electrification projects, while the remaining $2 million would be allocated to the International Institute of Justice to strengthen Nigeria’s justice system and anti-corruption efforts.
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, emphasised the importance of ensuring proper monitoring and effective use of the funds to maximise their benefit for the Nigerian people.
Hearing of Alison-Madueke’s motion against EFCC postponed to February 2025
Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, adjourned the hearing of a motion filed by Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The former minister had sought to amend the originating process in her ongoing legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The hearing was postponed to February 17, 2025.
Alison-Madueke, through her lawyer, Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had filed a suit (marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023) seeking more time to apply for an order to annul the EFCC’s public notice for the sale of her assets.
She argued that the forfeiture orders had been made without jurisdiction and that she had been denied a fair hearing in the proceedings.
Alison-Madueke served as Nigeria's Minister of Petroleum Resources from April 2010, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
In October 2010, she also made history as the first woman to lead a national delegation at the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) conference.
Furthermore, she was the first female Minister of Transportation and the first woman appointed to the board of the Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria. It
Documentary on Alison-Madueke’s fraud allegations is set to premiere
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the story of Diezani Alison-Madueke’s fraud allegations was set to premiere.
The film project, spearheaded by media mogul Chude Jideonwo, was centred around Madueke’s fraud allegations at home and abroad.