A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday vacated
an interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties granted against the former Deputy
Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.
Justice Inyang Ekwo vacated the order
following a discovery that the forfeiture order was fraudulently obtained by
the Federal Government against the properties.
The judge, while lifting the order, held
that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, 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 the court.
With his detention in London, the Judge
agreed with Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN, counsel to Ekweremadu, that there was
no way the former Deputy Senate 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 specifically directed that
anybody who had an 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 alleged organ
harvesting.