– The Nigerian government is close to recovering some assets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) owned by former public officials
– Former minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, is said to be one of the highest owners of properties in the UAE
– The profiling of the suspected assets of more than 25 Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) is ongoing
A report by The Nation indicates that the federal government has initiated moves to seize assets of a former minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke and four others in Dubai.
The others named after Mrs Alison-Madueke in the report are a former managing director of the defunct Oceanic Bank, Mrs Cecilia Ibru, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed and his son, Shamsudeen.
Mrs Alison-Madueke has been fingered in many corruption deals by the federal government. Photo credit: World Econmic Forum
This is coming after President Muhammadu Buhari signed instruments of ratification for a number of bilateral agreements with the UAE strengthening his administration’s anti-corruption fight on Thursday, August 24.
The agreements signed by the president covered anti-corruption, tax administration and intellectual property protection.
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According to the report, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) traced eight choice assets to Mrs Ibru and two to the ex-petroleum minister.
Although the ex-FCT Minister and his son are on the list, their Dubai houses are yet to be listed because their investigation is ongoing.
The profiling of the suspected assets of more than 25 Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) is ongoing.
A source quoted in the report said: “The EFCC has done considerable intelligence work on the assets of Diezani and some of her business associates.
“Following due diligence by the EFCC, the federal government has already compiled a list of first batch of suspects with houses in Dubai, whose assets ought to be attached.
“They are a former minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke; a former managing director of the defunct Oceanic Bank, Mrs Cecilia Ibru and a former minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed and his son, Shamsudeen.
“The government will soon formally apply to the UAE for the seizure of the assets traced to these Nigerians.
“Despite the fact that many assets were said to be allegedly owned by Mrs Ibru, only eight choice mansions has been identified by the EFCC.
“The ex-petroleum minister has two apartments, including the one marked as J5 Emirates Hills (30 million Dirham) and another tagged E146 Emirates Hills, valued at 44million Dirham.”
Some of these assets are said to be in Emirates Hills, Marina, Jumeira, Bur Dubai in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE.
Former Nigerian public officials are said to own luxurious houses in the UAE. Photo credit: akademifantasia.org
Following a state visit to the UAE by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 19, 2016, the federal government entered into six agreements with the Emirates.
The agreements, which were signed by President Buhari last week, are:
1. Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement;
2. Agreement on Trade Promotion and Protection;
3. Judicial Agreements on Extradition;
4. Transfer of Sentenced Persons;
5. Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters; and
6. Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters(recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth).
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