Court orders provisional confiscation of 40 assets attributed to Ike Ekweremadu
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday authorized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to temporarily seize 40 properties attributed to Ike Ekweremadu.
The order came as Mr. Ekweremadu, a former Deputy Speaker of the Senate, is being held in the UK for allegedly attempting to remove David Nwamini's kidney for their sick daughter.
The judge, Inyang Ekwo, issued the interim confiscation order of his assets after hearing an ex parte request filed by the EFCC.
EFCC lawyer Ibrahim Buba filed the request for confiscation of the assets, claiming they were suspected proceeds of crime.
The lawyer told the judge that the land holdings include 15 in Abuja, 10 in Enugu (Mr Ekweremadu's home state), one in Lagos, two in the UK, three in the US and nine in Dubai in the United States. United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The EFCC claimed that the assets were acquired with the proceeds of fraud.
Decision, Mr. Ekwo granted the request and ordered the EFCC to, within seven days from the date of the order, publish the interim asset forfeiture order in a daily newspaper national.
This is to allow anyone with an interest in the assets to go to court to convince the court not to issue a permanent forfeiture order to the federal government.
READ ALSO:London Metropolitan Police arrested Mr. Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, on the grounds that Mr. Nwanini, whom the couple had taken to London for organ removal, was underage.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that prosecutors said the Ekweremadus were accused of bringing a 15-year-old boy from Nigeria to the UK claiming he should have a better life in the UK, but that he actually had to harvest his organ for their sick daughter.
But the couple, who were denied bail and face organ trafficking charges in London, had insisted Mr Nwanini was 21.
While Mr Ekweremadu remains in custody, it has been reported that a London court has adjourned his case until May 2023.
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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday authorized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to temporarily seize 40 properties attributed to Ike Ekweremadu.
The order came as Mr. Ekweremadu, a former Deputy Speaker of the Senate, is being held in the UK for allegedly attempting to remove David Nwamini's kidney for their sick daughter.
The judge, Inyang Ekwo, issued the interim confiscation order of his assets after hearing an ex parte request filed by the EFCC.
EFCC lawyer Ibrahim Buba filed the request for confiscation of the assets, claiming they were suspected proceeds of crime.
The lawyer told the judge that the land holdings include 15 in Abuja, 10 in Enugu (Mr Ekweremadu's home state), one in Lagos, two in the UK, three in the US and nine in Dubai in the United States. United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The EFCC claimed that the assets were acquired with the proceeds of fraud.
Decision, Mr. Ekwo granted the request and ordered the EFCC to, within seven days from the date of the order, publish the interim asset forfeiture order in a daily newspaper national.
This is to allow anyone with an interest in the assets to go to court to convince the court not to issue a permanent forfeiture order to the federal government.
READ ALSO:London Metropolitan Police arrested Mr. Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, on the grounds that Mr. Nwanini, whom the couple had taken to London for organ removal, was underage.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that prosecutors said the Ekweremadus were accused of bringing a 15-year-old boy from Nigeria to the UK claiming he should have a better life in the UK, but that he actually had to harvest his organ for their sick daughter.
But the couple, who were denied bail and face organ trafficking charges in London, had insisted Mr Nwanini was 21.
While Mr Ekweremadu remains in custody, it has been reported that a London court has adjourned his case until May 2023.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
[embedded content]TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT: Call Willie - +2348098788999
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