A federal high court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the permanent forfeiture of $40 million worth of jewellery confiscated from the residence of Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources, to the federal government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had approached the court to seek Forfeiture of the Jewellry which was discovered after a raid on Diezani’s residence.

Nicholas Oweibo, the presiding judge, in his ruling averred that the former minister could not give substantial and convincing reason as to why the jewellery should not be permanently forfeited to the government.

On July 5, the court ordered the forfeiture of the assets following an ex parte application filed by Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC valued the items at $40 million.

Oyedepo, in his application, contended that the jewellery was suspected to have been acquired with “proceeds of unlawful activities”.

But Diezani, in an application filed by Awa Kalu, her counsel, sought the court order to have the seized assets returned.

She said the EFCC made its way into her apartment illegally and took the items without any subsisting court order.

According to the schedule attached to the application, some of the pieces of jewellery categorised into 33 sets, are “419 bangles; 315 rings; 304 earrings; 267 necklaces; 189 wristwatches; 174 necklaces and earrings; 78 bracelets; 77 brooches; and 74 pendants”.

In an affidavit, Rufai Zaki, an investigator with the anti-graft commission, deposed before the court that the jewellery was beyond Diezani’s “known and provable lawful income”.

Zaki added that findings by the EFCC showed that Diezani started acquiring the jewellery in 2012 after she was appointed a minister.

“The respondent did not utilise her salary or any part of her legitimate income to acquire the assets sought to be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria,” he said.