Diezani Loses Bid To Recover Seized $40m Jewellery, Iphone

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ruled that the 2,149 pieces of jewellery and a customised gold iPhone, valued at $40m, recovered from the Abuja home of Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke should be forfeited permanently to the federal government.

In a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Nicholas Nicholas Oweibo held that Diezani, through her lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN), failed to point out reasons the items should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had told the judge that the jewellery and iPhone were reasonably suspected to be acquired with fraud proceeds. The anti-graft agency further explained that the items were beyond Diezani’s legitimate earnings.

A Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has granted a final forfeiture to 🇳🇬, the $40m worth of jewelries seized from #Dirty Diezani Allison-Madueke.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo ruled that the rogue had failed to show cause why the jewelries should not be forfeited to 🇳🇬👏 pic.twitter.com/EOEd86iYGp

— APC United Kingdom (@APCUKingdom) September 10, 2019