The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to reject former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke’s attempt to rely on her acquittal by a United Kingdom court in her legal challenge over assets linked to her.
The anti-graft agency made the request in a further counter-affidavit filed in response to Diezani’s application to present the June 17, 2026 judgment of the Southwark Crown Court in London, where she was acquitted of bribery charges.
Diezani is challenging the forfeiture and proposed sale of assets she says are connected to her, arguing that her UK acquittal is a subsequent development relevant to issues including due process, fair hearing and the absence of a criminal conviction.
The EFCC, however, argued that the UK proceedings have no bearing on the Nigerian case.
In its filing, the commission maintained that the proceedings before the Southwark Crown Court were separate from the case before the Federal High Court in Abuja and therefore should not be relied upon in determining the Nigerian asset dispute.
The commission further argued that the forfeiture orders underpinning the disposal of the disputed assets remain valid and have not been set aside.
It also disputed Diezani’s attempt to broaden the scope of the Nigerian proceedings, arguing that the forfeiture order in question related specifically to jewellery and did not extend to every category of property or asset referenced in her filings.
Diezani, through her counsel, Mike Ozekhome, has argued that her UK acquittal is a material development that occurred after the original court processes were filed and should therefore be considered by the Nigerian court.
Her lawyers have maintained that they are not asking the Federal High Court to overturn or review the UK judgment, but to consider it as part of the circumstances surrounding their challenge to the forfeiture and disposal of her assets.
The former minister was acquitted by a London jury in June 2026 after facing six bribery-related charges. Reuters reported that the verdict ended a lengthy UK corruption case against her, which she had consistently denied.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel for Diezani informed the court that the EFCC had served its further counter-affidavit shortly before the hearing. EFCC counsel indicated that the commission was ready to proceed.
Justice Inyang Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter until November 11, 2026, when the pending motions are expected to be heard.
