ON Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the permanent forfeiture of the 2,149 pieces of jewellery and customised iPhone, valued at $40million recovered from the former Minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

While ruling, Justice Nicholas Oweibo held that Diezani, through her lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN), failed to give reasons why the items should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had informed the judge that the jewellery and iPhone were sensibly suspected to be procured with fraud proceeds, stating that it was beyond Diezani’s legitimate earnings.

The ICIR reported that the court in July ordered the temporary forfeiture of pieces of jewellery and a customized gold iPhone belonging to Alison-Maduke.

The Commission secured the interim forfeiture of the items  following an ex parte application it filed.

In granting the order, Justice Oweibo directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in any national newspaper within 14 days for the respondent or anyone interested in the items to show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.