ESTHER ODILI FROM LEGIT NG
The recent court verdict
The court also held that affidavits before it contradicted the claim by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), that all the 40 properties listed in the application for interim assets forfeiture belonged to Ekweremadu, his company, Foundation and wife, The Guardian report added.
The judge said:
“The facts of this case present a heart-rending scenario and prompt me to say this – no Nigerian should be made to go through this kind of travail whether at home or abroad.”
Court blames the EFCC for Ekweremadu’s travails
The court held that “In this case, the respondent (EFCC) wrote Exhibit SIE 2 (a letter) to the Crown Prosecution Service in the United Kingdom which letter was used as evidence to deny Senator Ike Ekweremadu bail in the criminal proceedings, a report by The Sun newspaper added.
“This, in my opinion, is an unconscionable act. The act of the respondent clearly shows that this action was brought in bad faith.“In law, bad faith entails dishonesty of belief or purpose. I find that the application for forfeiture, going by the facts of this case has not been brought in good faith and ought to be struck out.”
Court gives final verdict on forfeiture of Ekweremadu’s properties
Legit.ng reported earlier that the interim order of forfeiture that was issued on the properties of the embattled former deputy senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has been set aside by a federal high court in Abuja.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the court held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) concealed some facts during its application for an interim forfeiture of the properties.
The court delivered the verdict on Friday, January 20.
