Court Vacates Forfeiture Order On Ekweremadu’s Properties
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, vacated an interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), against former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo while vacating the order, noted that the Forfeiture Order was fraudulently obtained by the EFCC on behalf of the Federal Government against the properties.
Justice Ekwo held that the EFCC which obtained the Order on behalf of the Federal Government concealed valid information that led to granting it.
The judge specifically said that the EFCC was fully aware that Ekweremadu was in custody in the United Kingdom yet, failed to make vital information available to the court.
Justice Ekwo agreed with Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN, who is the counsel to Ekweremadu that with the detention of his client (Ekweremadu) in London, there was no way he would be opportuned to defend his ownership of the disputed properties.
The Court had on November 4, 2022 granted an interim Forfeiture Order in favour of the Federal Government following an ex-parte application brought before him by the anti-graft agency.
However, the Court had directed that anybody who had interest in the forfeited properties should indicate within 14 days of the publication of the interim forfeiture Order granted by it.
Senator Ekweremadu and his wife are currently standing trial in the United Kingdom over an allegation of organ harvesting.
