The Court of Appeal, on Friday threw out an appeal application filed by former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, seeking to challenge the forfeiture of her $40 million worth of jewellery seized to the federal government.
The Lagos Division of the appellate court dismissed the appeal suit on the grounds that it lacked substance.
Diezani, in the appeal application filed by her legal counsel, Prof Awa Kalu, said the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), violated her right by entering her apartment illegally and taking the items without any court order.
The former minister in the appeal application marked CA/L/1263/19, listed jewellery categorised into 33 sets.
The breakdown: “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.”
However, the appellate court rejected the application, and upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State, which granted an order forfeiting the jewellery seized from Dezani’s residence, at No. 10 Fredrick Chiluba Close, Asokoro, Abuja.
