JUST IN : Court orders interim seizure of $40m worth of jewellery belonging to Diezani

A Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos on Friday ordered the temporary  forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of some expensive pieces of jewelry valued at about $40m which were recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in the premises of a Former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke

Justice Nicholas Oweibo made the order after granting a motion exparte application brought before him by the EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo.

The EFCC,  in the application noted that the expensive jewelry comprising wristwatches, necklaces, bracelets, bangles, earrings and more were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities of the former Minister.

The Commission also added that Mrs Allison-Madueke’s known and provable lawful income is far less than the value of the jewellery sought to be forfeited.

In granting the application, Justice Oweibo agreed with the EFCC that the court has the statutory powers under the provision of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act 2006 to order the forfeiture.

Meanwhile, the judge also ordered the anti-graft commission to publish in any national newspaper the interim order of forfeiture to serve as notice to the former Minister or anyone interested in the assets to be forfeited to appear before the court to show cause within 14days why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The court then adjourned further proceedings till August 13.