A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, ordered an interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties belonging to the embattled former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is currently in custody in the United Kingdom.
Justice Inyang Ekwo made the order following an ex-parte motion filed and moved by Ibrahim Buba on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
While granting the order, the Judge ordered the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order of the properties in a national daily within seven days.
He 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.
Justice Ekwo 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 said properties.
The interim forfeiture order covers Ekweremadu’s properties 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 Emirate Republic and 15 located in the Federal Capital Territory.
By the ruling, members of the public who had an interest in the properties, covered by the interim forfeiture should, within 14 days of the newspaper publication should inform the court why the properties should be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The former Deputy Senate President and his wife are currently standing trial in the United Kingdom over alleged organ harvest, another matter that is not related to the said properties.
