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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, ordered an interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties belonging to the embattled former deputy senate president, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, who is currently in custody in United Kingdom.
The trial Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, made the order following an ex-parte motion filed and moved by Ibrahim Buba on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ruling on the ex-parte motion, 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.
He 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.
The judge subsequently adjourned till December 5, 2022, for a report, if there is any objection from any member of the public regarding the properties.
The interim forfeiture order covers 10 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.
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 for alleged organ harvest.