The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Friday, affirmed the forfeiture of a $40 million worth of jewelry belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government.
Justice I.N. Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos , had, on September 10, 2019, ordered the final forfeiture of the jewelry and a customized gold Iphone valued at $40m belonging to Allison-Madueke, to the FG.
The judge had, earlier on July 5, 2019, granted the interim forfeiture of the properties, following an ex parte application filed by the EFCC.
The high court judge held that the former minister failed to show cause why the jewellery should not be permanently forfeited to the government.
Dissatisfied, the former minister in appeal No: CA/L/1263/19 asked the appellate court to overturn the decision of the high court.
In the judgment delivered on Friday, the appellate court held that there was no substance in Alison-Madueke’s appeal to overturn the lower court’s order.
Consequently, the appellate court affirmed the 2019 verdict of the federal high court.
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 residence at No. 10 Fredrick Chiluba Close, Asokoro, Abuja.
