The London High Court has frozen the assets worth $734 million of  50-year-old Isabel dos Santos, once Africa’s richest woman, following her loss in a lengthy legal dispute.

Ms Dos Santos was in a legal fight with Angolan telecoms company Unitel International Holdings (UIH), which sought damages of $733 million (£580 million) due to financial decisions made by her during her time as a director of the company in 2012 and 2013.

Reports suggest that Isabel dos Santos, who is the daughter of a former president, facilitated loans to finance UIH’s acquisition of shares in various telecom companies while working as a director at Unitel.

Ms Dos Santos denied these allegations and suggested that the court case is a political campaign against her by the Angolan government.

She claimed that the loans were approved in good faith by Unitel’s board and shareholders.

She said the freezing order must be viewed in the light of political feuding in Angola, arising from her efforts to root out corruption during her time running the country’s state oil company.

According to court documents, Unitel is ultimately in the effective control of the Angolan State following changes to its ownership and management in 2020.

However, the High Court granted a freezing order in favour of Unitel on 20 December, as per a report by the BBC.

During a court hearing, according to the BBC, it was also disclosed that Ms Dos Santos, once considered Africa’s wealthiest woman with an estimated fortune of $2 billion, holds assets that include property in the UK worth up to £33.5 million ($42 million) and property worth $95 million in Monaco and Dubai.

While the judge has yet to decide the terms of the order, he warned Ms Dos Santos that her case seems like a clear example of a worldwide freezing order that exceeds the immediate jurisdiction of the High Court.

The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), on Tuesday, restated its commitment to provide scholarship and quality education to persons with disabilities in various institutions in the country.

Its executive secretary, James Lalu, said this at a stakeholders’ meeting of Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI) to commemorate the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

According to Mr Lalu, NCPWD is committed to providing scholarships and quality education to people with disabilities and ensuring they get student loans promised by President Bola Tinubu.

Mr Lalu said that a lot of positive things would happen to persons with disabilities in 2024.

“2024 is going to be a year of maximum benefit for persons with disabilities. A year of renewed hope and commitment, we look forward to collaborating with VDI and other organisations for the benefit of persons with disabilities in Nigeria,” he said.

In her remarks, the executive director of VDI, Catherine Edeh, said that the purpose of the stakeholders’ meeting was to unveil its five-year strategic plan (2023-2027) and quarterly newsletter.

According to her, it is also an avenue to present the outcome of stakeholders’ engagement in Ebonyi, Kwara and Enugu states.

Ms Edeh cautioned people against discrimination against persons with disabilities, saying that such action must stop.

Daniel Uwaezuoke, chairman of the board of trustees (BOT), VDI, stated that the unveiling of the VDI five-year strategic plan was apt and wouldn’t have been done at a better time than now.

According to him, presently, government and development partners are paying more attention to issues around inclusive plans and development.

Mr Uwaezuoke said that the meeting was an opportunity for partners to learn more about VDI with a view to forging a new partnership and collaboration agenda.

Chijioke Nwafor, a member of VDI BOT, urged parents to identify and harness the potential in their child’s disability.

Mr Nwafor said that parents should accept every child with disability challenge and not discourage such a child, adding that there are abilities in disability.

He advised parents not to hide and not to pamper a child with a disability but to give such child training and support.

(NAN)