Diezani’s appeal to recover $40m jewelry dismissed

The appeal by former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke to recover her $40m jewelry forfeited to the government has been dismissed.

The court of appeal, Lagos division, ruled that the former minister failed to show cause why the jewelry should not be permanently forfeited to the government.

On September 19, 2019, Nicholas Oweibo, judge of a federal high court in Lagos ordered the permanent forfeiture of $40 million worth of jewelry seized from Alison-Madueke.

Dissatisfied, the former minister in appeal No: CA/L/1263/19 asked the appellate court to upturn the decision of the high court.

In the judgment delivered on Friday, the appellate court held that there was no substance in Alison-Madueke’s appeal to overturn the lower court’s order.

Consequently, the appellate court affirmed the 2019 verdict of the federal high court.

According to the schedule attached to the application, the jewelry, categorized into 33 sets include “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”.

The items were seized from the former minister’s residence at No. 10 Fredrick Chiluba Close, Asokoro, Abuja.