The former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Madueke has lost her bid to recover $40m jewellery from Federal Government of Nigeria.
Point News247 reports that the Court of Appeal Lagos Division has dismissed an appeal by the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, challenging the forfeiture of her $40million worth of jewellery to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The court held that there was no substance in Alison-Madueke’s bid to overturn the lower court’s order and thereby affirming the 2019 judgment of Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court which forfeited the jewellery following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Recall that on July 5, 2019, the EFCC secured an order of the high court temporarily forfeiting the expensive items to the Federal Government.
According to the schedule attached to the application, the jewellery, categorised into 33 sets, include “419 expensive bangles; 315 expensive rings; 304 expensive earrings; 267 expensive necklaces; 189 expensive wristwatches; 174 expensive necklaces and earrings; 78 expensive bracelets; 77 expensive brooches; and 74 expensive pendants.”
The items were seized from the former Minister’s premises, at No. 10 Fredrick Chiluba Close, Asokoro, Abuja.
Justice Oweibo on July 19, 2019 granted the EFCC’s motion for final forfeiture of the jewellery.