Court to Decide on Vacation Order on Temporary Forfeiture of Ekweremadu’s Properties January 25

*Former deputy senate president fingers EFCC in his travail

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday fixed January 25, 2023, for ruling in the application by former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, seeking to set aside the court’s order temporarily forfeiting his property to the federal government.
Justice Ekwo fixed the date for ruling, shortly after taking submissions of counsel to parties in the suit.

While Chief Adegboyega Awomolo had argued on behalf of Ekweremadu, federal government’s lawyer, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, who had opposed the request for the setting aside of the forfeiture order, stated that he would however not oppose an order of status quo, pending the return of Ekweremadu, who is currently being detained in the United Kingdom over allegations bordering on organ harvesting.

Justice Ekwo had ordered the federal government to temporary seize 40 landed properties belonging to the former Deputy Senate President, pending the order for affected persons to show cause why the properties should not be permanently given to the federal government.
Since the order of interim forfeiture was issued, Ekweremadu through his lawyer, the Anambra State Government and a medical firm have come out to challenge the order.

In the application for setting aside of the order of interim forfeiture, Ekweremadu accused EFCC of been responsible for his travails at the London Court where he has been held since June this year for allegedly taking a minor to the UK for the purpose of harvesting the minor’s organ.
However, Awomolo, in supporting the allegations informed Justice Ekwo that the commission wrote a letter to the London, following which the foreign court denied Ekweremadu bail.

Speaking further, the learned silk claimed that the forfeiture order was granted to the federal government in error because the EFCC suppressed information and facts in respect of the properties.

According to Awomolo, the anti-graft agency fraudulently obtained the forfeiture order for the government by concealing information that investigation on the 40 properties started as far back as 2008.

Among others, he alleged that the EFCC was fully aware that Ekweremadu was in detention in London, when the application for forfeiture of the properties was filed and argued.

He said the anti-graft agency deliberately refused to disclose to the court that the former DSP was being held in London and would not be able to counter the forfeiture request.

Awomolo therefore prayed the court to set aside the forfeiture order and stay proceedings in the matter until Ekweremadu resolves his ordeal at the London Court.

Responding, EFCC’s lawyer, Tahir denied that his client was behind Ekweremadu’s ordeal.

Tahir however, admitted that EFCC wrote the London Court based on a special request, adding that it was a normal routine for anti-graft agencies to exchange information that would be of help to one another.

Tahir did not oppose request for stay of proceedings till Ekweremadu fully resolve his matter before the London Court, but however, vehemently opposed the request for setting aside of the forfeiture order.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo after taking arguments from parties fixed January 25 next year for ruling in the matter.