Reps chide EFCC over delay in disposing N46bn seized Alison-Madueke’s assets
By The House of Representatives has scolded the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the delay in disposing of the N46 billion assets seized from the former minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The lawmakers expressed their displeasure when the EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa appeared before the House ad-hoc committee on assessment and status of all recovered loots; movable and immovable assets from 2002 to 2020 by agencies of the Federal Government, for efficient management and utilisation, on Friday.
Chairman of the committee, Adejoro Adeogun, said it was improper to continue keeping such recoveries as they were losing value over time.
“Given the financial situation of Nigeria, shouldn’t we just auction these things fast and put the money to use. Why does it take so long to turn these assets into cash to fund the budget?, he queried.
Addressing journalists after the hearing, Adeogun said the Federal Government has set up a committee under the chairmanship of the solicitor-general of the federation which is working on the matter.
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“We have EFCC representatives from that committee and we believe at the end of the day Nigerians are going to appreciate what that committee will come out with in terms of the mandate given to them.
“This is to ensure that assets that are not only recovered by the EFCC but the entirety of the recovery agencies assets are disposed of,” Adeogun said.
The EFCC chairman had earlier told lawmakers that the Alison-Madueke’s seized jewelleries were valued at N14 billion while houses stood at $80 million. He said although they got the forfeiture order for assets recovered from the former petroleum minister in 2019, they were yet to be auctioned due to long court processes and administrative exigencies.