A Federal High Court in Abuja has vacated an interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties granted against the former Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu.
Justice Inyang Ekwo vacated the order, on Friday in Abuja.
This is following a discovery that the forfeiture order was fraudulently obtained by the Federal Government against the properties.
Lifting the order, Ekwo held that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), concealed information that led to granting it.
EFCC obtained the order on behalf of the Federal Government.
Specifically, he said that EFCC, which is fully aware that Ekweremadu was in detention in the United Kingdom, failed to make the vital information available to the court.
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With his detention in London, the Judge agreed with Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), counsel to Ekweremadu, that there was no way the Senate could be opportune to defend his ownership of the disputed properties.
The NewsZenith recalls that Ekwo had, on Nov. 4, 2022, issued the interim forfeiture order in favour of the government, following an ex-parte application by EFCC.
The Judge had 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 are currently standing trial in the United Kingdom over alleged organ harvesting.
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