Order EFCC to release my $40m jewellery- Diezani Alison-Madueke tells Lagos court
Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, has pleaded with the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, to return her 2,149 pieces of jewellery and a customised gold iPhone,valued at $40m, which were seized by the antigraft agency last month.
In an application filed on her behalf by Prof. Awa Kalu(SAN), Diezani who is currently in the United Kingdom, accused the EFCC of entering her apartment illegally and taking the items without any court order.
She said the anti-graft agency violated her fundamental “right to own property and to appropriate them at her discretion,” under sections 43 and 44 of the Constitution.
She advised the court to reject the prayer by the EFCC to permanently forfeit the jewellery and the gold iPhone to the Federal Government.
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The EFCC had, on July 5, 2019, secured an interim order to seize the Jewellery and the gold iPhone belonging to the former Minister.
According to the court papers, the jewellery categorised 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 former Minister argued that the entry into her apartment by EFCC operatives was illegal as it was without a court order.
Justice Nichola Oweibo adjourned the case till August 29.
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