Appeal Court Upholds Final Forfeiture Order of Diezani’s $40million Worth of Jewellery
- The EFCC has defeated former minister for petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke at the Appeal Court
- The anti-graft commission had defeated the former minister at a lower court earlier over the pieces of jewellery seized in her apartment
- It is not clear if the Bayelsa-born former minister will head to the Supreme Court to challenge the Appeal Court's decision
Lagos - Channels Television is reporting that the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has upheld the final forfeiture order on the $40 million worth of jewellery seized from the premises of the former minister for petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke.
Justice Festus Obande, who read the judgment on Friday, November 26 held that there was no substance in Alison-Madueke’s bid to overturn the lower court’s order and subsequently dismissed the move by the former minister to challenge the forfeiture order.
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Barring any appeal by the former minister to the Supreme Court, the pieces of jewellery are to be forfeited to the federal government.
An Expensive List of Ornaments Owned by the Ex-Minister
According to the schedule attached to the forfeiture application, the jewellery, categorised into 33 sets, includes:
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1. 419 expensive bangles
2. 315 expensive rings
3. 304 expensive earrings
4. 267 expensive necklaces
5. 189 expensive wristwatches
6. 174 expensive necklaces and earrings
7. 78 expensive bracelets
8. 77 expensive brooches and
9. 74 expensive pendants
The Nation newspaper reports that the items were seized from the former minister’s premises, in Abuja.
The Bayelsa-born former minister was said to have been staying at No. 10 Fredrick Chiluba Close, Asokoro, a high-brow area in the Nigerian capital.
EFCC Chairman Reveals Alison-Madueke Embezzled N15 Billion as Minister
Recall that the chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, had earlier said Alison-Madueke laundered N15.2 billion ($37million) while in office.
Bawa made the disclosure on Thursday, June 17, in Abuja when clarifying an earlier statement that the EFCC was prosecuting a minister for laundering funds through real estate.
The EFCC boss, however, previously did not state the identity of the suspect or whether she is a current or former minister, which prompted some Nigerians to suggest that the suspect was a minister serving under the Buhari administration.
EFCC Boss Reveals Truth About Raid on Ex-Minister's Apartment
Bawa had earlier denied reports that a diamond bra was among items recovered from Alison-Madueke's apartment contrary to the media reports.
The EFCC boss made the clarification during his appearance on TVC's Your View on Wednesday, November 17.
He said nothing of such was found in Diezani's apartment, adding that the government was yet to auction the properties including pieces of jewelry seized from the former minister.
Source: Legit.ng
