An decision for the temporary confiscation of 40 landed properties owned by the troubled former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremmadu, was overturned by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the UK, Ekweremmadu and his wife are currently on trial for allegedly violating a ban on organ harvesting.
On an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Justice Inyang Ekwo had directed that Ekweremadu lose the 40 properties in the interim in November 2022.
However, ruling on Friday on an application by Ekweremadu challenging the ex parte order, Justice Ekwo held, “I find the Applicant has established the grounds upon which this action is predicated by credible evidence and this application ought to succeed on the merit and I so hold.
“Consequently, I make the following orders:
“An order is hereby made setting aside the interim forfeiture order of the properties of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his companies made by this Court on 4th day of November, 2022, upon the ex parte Originating Motion filed by the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 27th July, 2022.
“The entire proceeding initiated by the Respondent is hereby set aside” Justice Ekwo ordered.
