A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered interim forfeiture of about 40 properties belonging to former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu
While the former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice are on trial at a London Court for alleged trafficking of a minor to the UK with the intention to harvest his organ, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Friday, secured a court order for the interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties of the beleaguered Senator in different parts of the world.
In his ruling, the Judge ordered the anti-graft agency to publish the interim forfeiture order of the properties in a national daily within seven days from the date the order was given.
Justice Ekwo specifically asked anybody interested in the properties covered by the interim forfeiture order to indicate within 14 days of the publication of the interim forfeiture order of the court.
He however, adjourned till December 5, 2022 for a report in case there is any objection from any member of the public regarding the properties.
The interim forfeiture order covers 10 Ekweremadu’s properties in Enugu, three in the United States of America (USA), two in the United Kingdom, one in Lagos, nine in Dubai and 15 located in Abuja.
By the ruling, members of the public interested in the properties covered by the interim forfeiture order should, within 14 days of the newspaper publication, inform the court why the properties should not 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.Ekweremadu and wife had pleaded not guilty to the charge claiming that the alleged victim was not a minor and voluntarily offered to donate his organ for Ekweremadu’s daughter who is currently sick in a London hospital.Although, the court had granted Beatrice bail, it however refused to admit Ekweremadu to bail.