A Federal High Court in Abuja has set aside the interim order of forfeiture issued on property belonging to the former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu.
Ruling on Friday, presiding judge Inyang Ekwo, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission concealed facts when it applied for an interim forfeiture of the assets.
The affected property include 10 in Enugu, three in the United States of America, two in the UK, one in Lagos, nine in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate and 15 located in the Federal Capital Territory.
About three months ago, the Federal High Court, Abuja had ordered an interim forfeiture of 40 landed property, nine in Dubai, linked to Senator Ike Ekweremadu, former Deputy Senate President.
Justice Ekwo gave the ruling following an ex -parte motion filed and moved by Ibrahim Buba, lawyer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, are currently in custody in the United Kingdom (UK), over allegations bordering on organ trafficking of David Ukpo, who is said to be a minor.
Justice Ekwo, who granted the motion, ordered the anti-graft agency to publish the interim forfeiture order of the property in a national daily within seven days.
The judge direct anybody who had interest in the forfeited property to indicate within 14 days of the publication of the interim forfeiture order on why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
