FG Seized Jewelleries Worth N14bn From Diezani — EFCC Chair

Jewelleries worth N14.6 billion were seized from former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa disclosed this Friday while appearing before the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the assessment and status of recovered loot.

The EFCC boss added that houses valued at $80 million were also seized from the ex-minister.

He said that despite its final forfeiture to the Federal Government, the jewelleries were still in the custody of the EFCC and had not been auctioned.

The auctioning of the jewelleries and other properties, he said, was being delayed by court processes, procedures and administrative exigencies.

Bawa said that the EFCC would henceforth treat seized properties on a case by case basis at the courts to hasten the process of final disposal.

To fast-track the process of final disposal, the EFCC boss stated, the Federal Government set up a committee under the chairmanship of the Solicitor-General for the Federation.

“We have EFCC representatives from that committee and we believe at the end of the day Nigerians are going to appreciate what that committee will come out with in term of the mandate given to them,” the EFCC boss stated.

On how fast the committee would work to dispose the forfeited assets, Bawa said he could not say because he was not a member.