The Supreme Court has dismissed the application by Zamira Hajiyeva, the wife of jailed Azerbaijani banker Jahangir Hajiyev, to appeal the Unexplained Wealth Order made against her by the National Crime Agency. In doing so, the earlier decisions of the Court of Appeal and High Court refusing to discharge the Unexplained Wealth Order secured in 2018 are upheld.

The NCA secured two UWOs in February 2018 in respect of two properties with a combined value in excess of £22m. The decision by the Supreme Court relates to the UWO that requires Mrs Hajiyeva to provide information in connection with a large house in Knightsbridge. The second UWO relates to the purchase of a golf club in Berkshire.

Graeme Biggar, Director General of the National Economic Crime Centre at the NCA, said: “This is a significant result which is important in establishing Unexplained Wealth Orders as a powerful tool for financial investigations. This was the first UWO secured and the NCA has been determined throughout the many legal challenges faced over the last two years. This case will set a helpful precedent for future UWO cases.

“There are no further routes for Mrs Hajiyeva to appeal against the order. She will now be required to provide the NCA with the information we are seeking in connection with these assets.”