By Adedapo Adesanya
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday ordered the temporary forfeiture of two properties located in Ikoyi area of Lagos State and belonging to the immediate past Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to the Federal Government.
Ruling on the application, Justice Mohammed Liman ordered the interim forfeiture of the two properties.
The court order followed an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through the commission’s lawyer, Nnaemeka Omewa. The order sort for the 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.”
It was alleged that Saraki acquired the two properties while serving as governor of Kwara State and that he withdrew over twelve billion cash from the account of the Kwara State government and paid some into his accounts domiciled in Access and Zenith Banks through one of his personal assistant, Abdul Adama, at different intervals.
On his part, the former Senate President speaking through Yusuph Olaniyonu, his media aide, said neither him nor his lawyers were aware of any application by the EFCC for any forfeiture order.
He stated that a federal high court in Abuja had earlier given an order restraining the EFCC from taking action on the property, as it is a subject matter where the commission and the ministry of justice were parties.
“We are sure the Federal High Court judge in Lagos was not aware of all these facts and has therefore been misled into giving the temporary forfeiture order.
“The affected property, House Number 17A and 17B, was specifically listed in the case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in which the EFCC was part of the prosecution and the case went up to the Supreme Court where the apex court in its July 6, 2018 judgement ruled in his favour,” he said in a statement.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the source of funds for the purchase of the property was not illicit as claimed by the prosecution. On pages 12, 13 and 26 of the judgement of the highest court, this particular property on 17A McDonald Street, Ikoyi, was specifically referred to and the court upheld the no case submission of Dr. Saraki and therefore ruled in his favour.”
He, however, assured his supporters that the case will be thrown out on attempts of representation and that the case will be thrown out.
