Financial Crimes Commission have visited two mansions in Dubai said to be owned
by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani
Alison-Madueke.
The properties, located at E146 Emirates Hill and J5
Emirates Hill, are said to be worth 74,000,000 dirham (over N7Billion). But why
did this people “finish” Nigeria like this?
Emirates
Hill, which has been described as the Beverly Hills of the United Arab Emirates,
is home to some of the richest people in the world and that was where Diezani
took Nigeria’s money?
A source in the EFCC told Punch that the anti-graft
agency was already applying for the forfeiture of the properties through the
Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
If the commission is
able to clear all legal hurdles and ensure the final forfeiture of the property,
it would bring the total amount of cash and assets recovered from Diezani to
$200m (N70Billion).
A detective, who did not want to be named,
said, “We have informed the UAE authorities that from our investigation, we
believe Diezani bought the properties with the proceeds of crime. The whole
process is still ongoing but with the MLAT, signed by President Buhari, it has
made work a lot easier for us.”
Before the Federal Government signed the
treaty, the UAE law prevented foreign officials from having access to properties
in the country without the express permission of its owner.
Also, Prof.
Itse Sagay (SAN), who hailed President Buhari for signing the treaty, told Punch
that some corrupt senators, who also owned properties in Dubai, would be made to
forfeit them.
He said, “The UAE MLAT is not a treaty as such but an
agreement; so, it will be operated without their (senators)
approval.
“So, let that start worrying them (senators). He (President)
will implement it directly. So, those of them that have acquired properties in
Dubai and other Middle-East countries should kiss their properties good bye.”
