A Federal High Court in Abuja has set aside an interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties granted against the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu
Justice Inyang Ekwo vacated the order following a discovery that the Forfeiture Order was fraudulently obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC against the properties.
The Judge while lifting the order held that EFCC concealed information that led to granting it the order in the first place.
Justice Ekwo said that EFCC which was fully aware that Ekweremadu was in custody in the United Kingdom failed to make the vital information available to court.
The judge agreed with Ekweremadu’s counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo that there was no way the former Deputy Senate’s President would have an opportunity to defend his ownership of the disputed properties while in detention.
Justice Ekwo had on November 4 last year issued the interim Forfeiture Order in favour of the Federal Government following an ex-parte application brought before him by EFCC.
The Judge specifically directed that anybody who had 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 an alleged organ harvesting
