A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has ordered the interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties belonging to the former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who is currently in detention in the United Kingdom.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order following an ex-parte motion filed and moved by Ibrahim Buba for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Ekwo While granting the order, directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to publish the interim forfeiture order of the properties in a national daily within seven days of his order.
He 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 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Ekwo also adjourned the matter till December 5, 2022 for a report in the case if there is any objection from members of the public regarding the interim forfeited properties.
The interim forfeiture order covers Ekweremadu’s properties in several cities in Nigeria and across the World, the properties are as follows : 10 properties in Enugu, three in the United States of America, two in the United Kingdom, one in Lagos, nine in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and 15 others located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
By the ruling, members of the public who had interest in the properties, covered by the interim forfeiture should, within 14 days of the newspaper publication by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should inform the court why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The former Deputy President of the Senate and his wife are currently standing trial in the United Kingdom over alleged organ harvest ,another matter that is not related with the said properties.
He was arrested by the United Kingdom authorities over alleged Organ harvesting of an alleged minor for his daughter who has an undisclosed ailment leading to kidney failure.
He was alleged to have lured the minor to the United Kingdom without informing him of the true purpose of his trip to the United Kingdom.
His daughter is still seeking an organ donor to save her from death arising from the renal failure.
