Justice Inyang Ekwo of the 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.
The judge vacated the order following the discovery that the forfeiture order was fraudulently obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the properties.
Ekwo, held that the EFCC which obtained the order on behalf of the Federal Government concealed information that led to granting of the order by the court.
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.
Given the prevailing scenario, the judge agreed with Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), counsel to Ekweremadu that there was no way the former Deputy Senate President would defend his ownership of the disputed properties.
On November 4, 2022, Justice Ekwo issued the interim forfeiture order in favour of the Federal Government following an ex-parte application brought before him by EFCC.and also 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.
Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice were arrested by the London Metropolitan Police in June 2022 for alleged organ trafficking for which they are currently standing trial.
