SARAKI TO FORFEIT PROPERTY TO FG
 |
| At immediate |
A Federal High
Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of two properties
located at Ikoyi area of Lagos State, belonging to the immediate past Senate
President, Dr Bukola Saraki, to the Federal Government.
This was contained in a
statement, signed by Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the Head of Media and Publicity of
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ilorin on Monday.
“The Ilorin Zonal office
of EFCC in an exparte application filed by the Commission’s Lawyer, Nnaemeka
Omewa approached the Court seeking an order of interim forfeiture of the
properties.
“Omewa alleged
that the properties were acquired through proceeds of unlawful
activities,” Uwujaren said.
He said that while
delivering ruling on the application, Justice Mohammed Liman said that
EFCC should publish the order in a National Daily within 14 days and further
the matter for report of compliance with the order of Court.
The head of media said
that the Commission had sought for four orders before Justice Liman in respect
of the controversial property.
Part of the relief sought
by the EFCC include; “An order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of
Nigeria, landed property with appurtenances situate at No 17 and 17A McDonald Road,
Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State.
“Found and recovered from
the respondent, which property is reasonably suspected to have been acquired
with proceeds of unlawful activity,” Uwujaren said.
The head of media said
that Justice Liman, relying on the documents attached to the matter, resolved
all the issues raised in favour of the EFCC.
Uwujaren said that the
Commission in an affidavit alleged that the former President of the Senate
acquired the two properties with proceeds of unlawful activity.
Part of the affidavit
reads, “Trend of cash lodgments into Saraki’s account became suspicious and in
order to further disguise the source and origin of this money, the
respondent changed the pattern of payment and started making payments into
Exhibit EFCC 3, using fictitious names.
“The EFCC further alleged
that the former Nigeria’s number three citizen, while serving as the Executive
Governor of Kwara State, withdrew over N12 billion cash from the account of the
State Government.
“He paid the said amount
directly into his account, domiciled in Access and Zenith Banks through
one of his personal assistant, Abdul Adama at different intervals,” Uwujaren
said.
NAN
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