By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Respite on Friday came the way of the embattled former Deputy Senate President, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu as a Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja has set aside the interim order of forfeiture issued on some properties belonging to him.
Ruling on Friday, the presiding judge of FHC, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) concealed facts when it applied for an interim forfeiture of the assets belonging to Ekweremadu.
Prompt News reports that the Court, had earlier ordered an interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties belonging to the detained lawmaker. The order was made on Friday, November 4.
Recall Ekweremadu is currently in custody in the United Kingdom, over allegation of organ harvesting.
Justice Ekwo made the order following an ex-parte motion marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1242/2022 filed and moved by Ibrahim Buba on behalf of the EFCC.
In a short ruling on the exparte motion, the Judge ordered the anti-graft agency to publish the interim forfeiture order of the properties in a national daily within seven days from the date the order was given.
Justice Ekwo specifically asked anybody interested in the properties covered by the interim forfeiture order to indicate within 14 days of the publication of the interim forfeiture order of the court.
Justice Ekwo adjourned till December 5, 2022, for a report, if there is any objection from any member of the public regarding the properties.
The interim forfeiture order covers 10 Ekweremadu’s properties in Enugu, three in the United States of America (USA), two in the United Kingdom (UK), one in Lagos, nine in Dubai, and 15 located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
