Court lifts forfeiture order on Ekweremadu 40 properties

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has vacated an interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties granted against the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Friday following a discovery that the forfeiture order was fraudulently obtained by the Federal Government against the properties.

The judge 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.

The judge said that the EFCC which was fully aware that Ekweremadu was in custody in the United Kingdom failed to make the vital information available to the court.

The judge agreed with the counsel to Ekweremadu and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adegboyega Awomolo, that there was no way the former Deputy President of the Senate would be opportuned to defend his ownership of the disputed properties.

Justice Ekwo 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 had specifically directed that anyone 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 harvest.