A Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has granted a final forfeiture to the Federal Government, the $40m worth of jewellries seized from the premises of the former minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke.





Justice Nicholas Oweibo ruled that the former Minister had failed to show cause why the jewellries should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In his application for the final forfeiture order, Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo had told the judge that the expensive jewellries comprising wristwatches, necklaces, bracelets, bangles, earrings, a customized gold phone and more were reasonably suspected to have being acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities of the former Minister.

An investigator with the Commission, Rufai Zaki, in an affidavit put before the court insisted that the jewellries were beyond the former Minister’s “known and provable lawful income.”

The investigator further said that findings by the EFCC showed that she started acquiring the jewellery in 2012, two years after she was appointed Minister.

The investigator also said that the EFCC was in possession of the details of the bank account through which Mrs Alison-Madueke received her salary as a minister.

“The respondent did not utilise her salary or any part of her legitimate income to acquire the assets sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Zaki said.

He said a “damning intelligence report” received by the Commission led to the search of former minister’s house at No. 10 Fredrick Chiluba Close, Asokoro, Abuja.

The Former Minister on her part had challenged the seizure of the jewellries from her premises by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

In an affidavit filed on her behalf by her counsel, Prof Awa Kalu (SAN), Diezani, who is currently in the United Kingdom, alleged that the EFCC violated her fundamental “right to own property and to appropriate them at her discretion,” under sections 43 and 44 of the constitution.

She also accused the anti-graft agency of entering her apartment illegally and taking the items without any court order.

On July 5, 2019, The Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC had secured an order of the court temporarily forfeiting the expensive jewelleries 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 court decision is not bad anyway

419 people what is she using that amount of jewelry for

I hope all this ends were we expect ooo

very interesting update bravo

This one weak me ... I never see

Where this woman get money to buy all this thing

so the case was finally forefieted

More items should be seized from the woman. She is not even ashamed

The investigator further said that findings by the EFCC showed that she started acquiring the jewellery in 2012 very good

I am in support of the court ruling I think this would serve as a lesson to other corrupt leaders

40m dollars jewelry, that is a whole lot of money.

Those items mentioned are too cost. I support the court too

Eje man se iwadi daada because people r really surfing in Nigeria

i hope the forfeited resources goes constructively, into nation building and developmental projects.

Eve if the court can collect more than that from her hand they should collect it, how can someone be using 40 Million Maria phone

He's not to be blame. He should be discharge and acquitted

According to the schedule attached to the application, the jewellery very sad

I guess that money or some of it was embezzled

Haaaaaaa
Naija oooooo
Well that is good oooo

Let the jewelleries be forfeited; how on earth was she able to acquire all those luxuries.

Let the jewelleries be forfeited; how on
earth was she able to acquire all those
luxuries.

Let the jewelleries be forfeited; how on
earth was she able to acquire all those
luxuries.

what are they doing with someones expencive jewelry and iphone

$40 million jewelry that's some money man

Where this woman get money to buy all
this thing

Why would court order that

Good decision from the court

The court should make a good decision

Let them investigate well oo

That's too much for jewelry, while some work from morning to night yet not able to feed his family