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Chiyeso Lungu, daughter of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has failed in her attempt to prevent the State from forfeiting her properties pending the outcome of her appeal to the Court of Appeal.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Court (EFCC) rejected Chiyeso’s application for a stay of execution and the release of her personal chattels.
In its ruling, the court found that the grounds for Chiyeso’s appeal lacked special circumstances or realistic prospects of success, emphasizing that no exceptional reasons had been presented to justify a stay of execution.
The State had opposed her application, arguing that the contents of three locked containers at the State Lodge were part of an ongoing investigation into suspected proceeds of crime.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Gilbert Phiri, urged the court to allow the judgment to proceed without delay.
The properties in question, valued at K9,375,438.62, include two farms, a high-cost residence, four chicken runs, and three flats, acquired between 2013 and 2021.
Chiyeso had challenged the April 16, 2024, ruling, describing it as excessively harsh and arguing that the DPP had exceeded the court’s order.
Read More: Daughter of ex-President Lungu, Chiyeso, appeals forfeiture of K9 million properties
He appealed to the Court of Appeal, stating that without a stay, her appeal would be rendered futile.
However, Emmanuel Khondowe, a senior investigator with the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), countered that DEC had acted with due diligence and that Chiyeso had provided no evidence to support her claims.
Khondowe also noted that Chiyeso’s husband was present during the seizure and did not object to the removal of personal belongings.
During investigations, Chiyeso distanced herself from the contents of the containers, claiming they belonged to an unnamed tenant.
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