The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu has disclosed that the anti-graft agency has contacted ‘internationally certified’ auctioneers overseas to auction off the $40 million (about N14.4 billion) jewelry, recovered from a former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Magu also said 242 trailers and tankers recovered from internet scammers will also be auctioned off.
Magu spoke at the commission’s Lagos Office at the ongoing EFCC stakeholders conference on crusade against cybercrime fraudsters.
It will be recalled that Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos in September ordered full and final forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria jewelry valued at $40 million (about N14.4 billion), recovered from Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Justice Oweibo made the order of final forfeiture of the said jewelry while delivery judgement in a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The forfeited jewelry are categorised into 33 sets, which include ‘419 expensive bangles and 315 expensive rings’.
Also forfeited to the FG are: 304 expensive earrings, 267 expensive necklaces, 189 expensive wristwatches and 174 expensive necklaces and earrings.
The rest are 78 expensive bracelets, 77 expensive brooches and 74 expensive pendants.
In granting the final forfeiture order, Justice Oweibo held that Mrs. Allisoy-Madueke, instead of showing cause for the properties not to be finally forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria, only filed an application to set aside and discharge the earlier interim order of forfeiture made by the court on July 5, 2019.
