The Federal High Court on Friday set aside the interim forfeiture order on 40 properties belonging to embattled former Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, who is currently in custody in the United Kingdom.
Justice Inyang Ekwo vacated the interim forfeiture order he made on November 4, 2022 after the court discovered that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.misled the court with its ex – parte application that led to the interim forfeiture order .
The Judge while lifting the order held that the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which obtained the order on behalf of the Federal Government concealed information that led to granting it.
Specifically, 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.
With his detention in London, the Judge agreed with Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN, counsel to Ekweremadu that there was no way former Deputy Senate’s President would be opportune to defend his ownership of the disputed properties.
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 said however that EFCC was aware when it’s application was heard that Ekwerenmadu and his wife were arrested in London over allegation of conspiracy to traffic a person for organ harvesting and had made application for bail pending hearing going by exh.SIE 1 series.
The Crown Prosecution had written to the EFCC on July 17, 2022 concerning Senator Ike Ekwerenmadu’s record and EFCC responded on July 18,2023 which response was used to oppose his bail.
After a thorough considerations of the submissions by the lawyers, Justice Ekwo said that “in the end, I find the Applicant has established the grounds upon which this action Is predicated by credible evidence and this application ought to succeed on the merit and I so hold.”
Consequently, I make the following orders: (1) “An order Is hereby made setting aside the interim forfeiture order of the properties of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his companies made by this Court on 4″ day of November, 2022, upon the ex- parte Originating Motion filed by the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 27 of July, 2022.”
2)”The entire proceeding initiated by the Respondent is hereby set aside.”
The order had covered the following Ekweremadu’s properties: 10 properties in Enugu, three in the United States of America, two in the United Kingdom, one in Lagos, nine in Dubai the United Emirate Republic and 15 located in the Federal Capital Territory.