EFCC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, today inched closer to seize 40 properties allegedly belonging to Sen. Ike Ekweremadu.

A high court judge in Abuja today 4 November 2020 granted an interim forfeiture order on the properties.

Judge Inyang Ekwo will on 5 December rule on a final forfeiture order on the properties allegedly located in Nigeria, UAE, UK, and the USA.

A human rights group described the asset forfeiture case as “malicious, immoral, (and) in bad faith.”

Ekweremadu was in no position to “defend himself or properly brief his lawyers,” according to HURIWA, a coalition of human rights writers.

EFCC brought the request for forfeiture of Ekweremadu’s alleged assets after the Senator was arrested and taken into custody in London.

The London Metropolitan Police charged the Senator to court for allegedly participating in an organ harvesting plot.

EFCC’s ex-parte motion was argued by Ibrahim Buba in case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1242/2022.

After granting the request, Judge Ekwo ordered EFCC to publish the list of properties in a national daily within seven days.

This is to enable members of the public with counter claims on any of the properties to offer their objections.

The public has 14 days from date of publication to object on forfeiture of any property.

EFCC said there were 10 properties in Enugu, three in USA, two in the UK, one in Lagos, nine in Dubai, and 15 in the FCT.

Ekwo adjourned the case to 5 December 2022 to consider any such objections before making a final forfeiture order.

There was no indication that the Senator had legal representation in court today  before the order was made.

To be updated. ..

Cover photo: EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa

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