A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos and presided over by Justice Mohammed Liman, on Monday ordered temporary forfeiture of two properties located in Ikoyi area of Lagos State belonging to the immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to the Federal Government.
The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in an ex-parte application filed by the Commission’s Lawyer Nnaemeka Omewa approached the Court, seeking an order of interim forfeiture of the properties located at No. 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos, alleging that they were acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.
The anti-graft spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
He said, part of the reliefs sought by the EFCC include: “An order of this honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria landed property with appurtenances situate, lying and known as No. 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State found and recovered from the respondent which property is reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.
“The Commission in supporting affidavits, alleged that the former Senate President acquired the two properties with proceeds of unlawful activity; that while serving as governor of Kwara State, he withdrew over twelve billion cash from the account of the Kwara Government and paid same into his accounts domiciled in Access and Zenith Banks through one of his personal assistant, Abdul Adama, at different intervals.”
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Liman, ordered the interim forfeiture of the two properties.
Justice Liman also instructed that the EFCC should publish the order of interim forfeiture in a national newspaper.
The Judge gave 14 days for Saraki or anyone interested in the property to appear before him to show cause why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.