Court Orders Forfeiture Of Diezani’s Jewelry, Iphone Worth N14bn

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of some jewelry and a customised gold iPhone worth N14bn ($40m) belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison to the Federal Government. 

The items were recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

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

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

The application, titled action in rem, had Diezani as the only defendant and it was filed pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related Offences Act No. 14, 2006.