The interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties granted against the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu by the Federal High Court in Abuja has been lifted.
Justice Inyang Ekwo vacated the order following a discovery that the Forfeiture Order was fraudulently obtained by the Federal Government against the properties.
The Judge while lifting the order held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which obtained the order on behalf of the Federal Government concealed information that led to granting it and that the EFCC was fully aware that Ekweremadu was in custody in the United Kingdom and can’t make vital information available to the court.
With his detention in London, the Judge agreed with Ekweremadu’s counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo that there was no way the former Deputy Senate President would be opportuned to defend his ownership of the disputed properties.
Justice Ekwo had on November 4, 2022, issued the interim Forfeiture Order in favour of the Federal Government following an ex-parte application brought before him by EFCC.
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The Judge specifically directed that anybody who had an interest in the forfeited properties should indicate within 14 days of the publication of the interim forfeiture order from the court.
The former Deputy Senate President and his wife who are currently standing trial in the United Kingdom over an alleged organ harvest approached the Federal High Court in Abuja accusing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC’ of being responsible for his travails at the London Court where he is in detention.
In an application filed before the Nigerian court, he was seeking an order of the court to set aside interim order granted in favour of the Federal Government for the forfeiture of his 40 properties in the country and outside the country.
The Senator said the anti-graft agency wrote a letter to the London Court to refuse him bail, he therefore prayed the court to set aside the forfeiture order and stay proceedings in the matter until he resolves his ordeal before the London Court.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
