On Friday 6th January, 2017, Sahara Reporters and several media reports confirmed that a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos ordered the temporary forfeiture of the sum of $153m money allegedly stolen by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from the treasury of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The stolen funds were stashed in Sterling Bank, First Bank, and Access Bank. A sum of N23billion was kept with Sterling Bank Plc; N9billion was found in First Bank Plc, and $5m was found in an account with Access Bank Plc.

Justice Muslim Hassan gave the order on January 6th, 2017, with a 14-day ultimatum to Sterling Bank Plc and any other interested parties to prove the legitimacy of the monies before his court, else the funds would be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The 14-day ultimatum has expired. Nigerians want to know where their money is now.