Order EFCC to release my $40m jewellery, Diezani prays court
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/08/order-efcc-to-release-my-40m-jewellery.html
A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani
Alison-Madueke, has urged the court to order the return of her 2,149
pieces of jewellery and a customised gold iPhone, valued at $40m, which
were seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
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 urged the court to reject the prayer by the EFCC to permanently
forfeit the jewellery and the gold iPhone to the Federal Government.
These were contained in an application filed on her behalf by Prof. Awa Kalu (SAN), before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The EFCC had, on July 5, 2019, secured an order of the court
temporarily forfeiting the jewellery and the gold iPhone to the Federal
Government.
The anti-graft agency told the court that it found and recovered the
jewellery and the customised gold iPhone “on the premises of the
respondent;” adding that it reasonably suspected that the former
minister acquired them with “proceeds of unlawful activities.”
According to the schedule attached to the application, 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 EFCC asserted “the respondent’s known and provable lawful income
is far less than the properties sought to be forfeited to the Federal
Government of Nigeria.”
After granting the interim forfeiture order on July 5, the court
adjourned till August 19 for Diezani or anyone interested in the
jewellery and gold iPhone to appear before it to give reasons why the
items should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
But in the application filed on her behalf by Kalu (SAN), Diezani,
contended that the court lacked jurisdiction to have granted the interim
forfeiture order in the first place, as she had not been charged with
any crime or served with any summons by the EFCC.
She stressed that the entry into her apartment by EFCC operatives was illegal as it was without a court order.
The lawyer added that the temporary forfeiture order was prejudicial to Diezani because she was denied fair hearing.
The application, which was scheduled to be argued on Monday (today), was, however, stalled as Kalu was unable to come to court.
A lawyer from his chambers, Chukwuka Obidike, told the court that the
SAN was engaged in election petitions, and prayed for an adjournment.
Justice Nichola Oweibo adjourned the case till August 29.
But Governor Samuel
Ortom’s Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, in a statement made
available to Daily Trust in Makurdi on Monday, noted that at a second
meeting, the stakeholders had resolved to reconsider their position in
view of the fact that they now have enough information to make an
informed decision.
Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/benue-agrees-to-embrace-fgs-livestock-plan-if.html
Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/benue-agrees-to-embrace-fgs-livestock-plan-if.html
The Benue State
government has agreed to embrace the National Livestock Transformation
Plan as long as it does not breach provisions of the state’s Open
Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.
Our correspondent reports that the state, at an earlier stakeholders
meeting in Makurdi, rejected the plan on grounds that the document was a
reintroduction of the rejected Ruga settlements and cattle colonies for
herdsmen.
Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/benue-agrees-to-embrace-fgs-livestock-plan-if.html
Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/benue-agrees-to-embrace-fgs-livestock-plan-if.html
The Benue State
government has agreed to embrace the National Livestock Transformation
Plan as long as it does not breach provisions of the state’s Open
Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.
Our correspondent reports that the state, at an earlier stakeholders
meeting in Makurdi, rejected the plan on grounds that the document was a
reintroduction of the rejected Ruga settlements and cattle colonies for
herdsmen.
Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/benue-agrees-to-embrace-fgs-livestock-plan-if.html
Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/benue-agrees-to-embrace-fgs-livestock-plan-if.html
Reactions: |