A former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has lost a battle to regain her $40million worth of jewelry.
The Court of Appeal Lagos Division on Friday dismissed an appeal by the former minister challenging the ruling of a lower court that forfeited the jewels to the Federal Government.
The ruling was in an appeal filed by the former minister, with Appeal No CA/L/1263/19, and was between DIEZANI ALISON MADUEK and the EFCC).
According to the Appeal Court ruling, there was no substance in the former minister’s effort to overturn the ruling by the lower court.
The Appeal Court, therefore, sustained the judgment of Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in 2019, which ruled that the former minister should forfeit the jewelry upon an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It would be recalled that the EFCC on July 5, 2019, secured an order of the high court temporarily forfeiting the jewels to the Federal Government.
This was followed on July 19, 2019, when Justice Oweibo granted the EFCC’s request for the final forfeiture of the precious ornaments.
The amount and composition of the jewels seized from the former minister have been a subject of discourse in the country. They are said to 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.”
