The Federal High Court Abuja, presided over by Justic Inyang Ekwo, has ordered an interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties belonging to a former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is currently in custody in the United Kingdom.
The Judge made the order after hearing an ex-parte motion filed by anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ruling on the motion, Justice Ekwo ordered the Commission to publish the interim forfeiture order of the properties in a national daily within seven days from the date the order was made.
The court urged anybody interested in the properties covered by the interim forfeiture order to within 14 days of the publication, inform the court why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The order covers 10 of Ekweremadu’s properties in Enugu, three in the United States of America (USA), two in the United Kingdom (UK), one in Lagos, nine in Dubai and 15 located in the Federal Capital Territory.
The matter has been adjourned till December 5, 2022 for a report, if there is any objection from any member of the public regarding the properties.
Ekweremadu and his wife are currently standing trial in the United Kingdom for alleged organ harvesting.