Ekweremadu may lose their homes in Dubai, USA, UK

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the forfeiture of 40 plots of land belonging to former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ikwerimado, who is currently in custody in the United Kingdom.

Justice Anyang Eko issued the order following a unilateral request by Ibrahim Buba on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Passing the order, the judge directed the Economic and Financial Coordination Committee to publish the provisional asset forfeiture order in the national gazette within seven days.

And any person interested in the confiscated property was specifically directed to state why the property was not permanently confiscated within 14 days of the issuance of the provisional confiscation order.

Justice Ego adjourned the case to December 5, 2022 to receive a report if there is any objection from the public to the property.

The provisional forfeiture order covers Ekweremadu’s properties as follows; 10 properties in Enugu, three in the US, two in the UK, one in Lagos, nine in Dubai, 15 in the United Arab Emirates and the Federal Capital Territory.

The former deputy president of the Senate and his wife are currently on trial in England for alleged organ theft, another matter unrelated to the aforementioned assets.

HURIWA Dysfunction at EFCC

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has criticized the operation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which culminated in an interim asset forfeiture order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja against the former Deputy President of the Senate, Iggy Ikrimadu.

The coordinator of the group, Horiwa, Emmanuel Onuigo, said in a statement on Friday that the asset forfeiture case was malicious and unethical at a time when Ikweramato was facing trial in England and was unable to defend himself or inform his lawyer. , and in bad faith. It’s like a country throwing its citizens under the bus.

His criticism focused on anti-corruption forces who have teamed up with the Greater London Police to keep Iquirimado in prison forever despite efforts to save him.