Court orders temporary forfeiture of Diezani’s $40m jewellery

A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the forfeiture of 2,149 pieces of jewellery and a customised gold iPhone valued at $40m, belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke. Justice Nicholas Oweibo ordered that the items should be temporarily forfeited to the federal government, following an ex parte application moved […]

A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the forfeiture of 2,149 pieces of jewellery and a customised gold iPhone valued at $40m, belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo ordered that the items should be temporarily forfeited to the federal government, following an ex parte application moved by an EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo.

The EFCC said it found and recovered the jewellery and the customised iPhone on the premises of the respondent, adding that it reasonably suspected that the former minister acquired them with proceeds of unlawful activities.

The judge ordered the anti-graft agency to publish the forfeiture order in a national newspaper for the respondent or anyone who is interested in the property sought to be forfeited to appear before the court to show cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture order should not be made in favour of the government.