FG MOVES TO SEIZE EKWERENMADU’S ASSETS

The Federal Government yesterday asked the Federal High court in Abuja to freeze undeclared assets that were traced to the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

Federal Government, via an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/284/2018, specifically applied for an Interim Court order temporarily attaching/ forfeiting the properties listed in schedule B hereunder, to the Federal Government of Nigeria pending the conclusion of further inquiry/investigation by the special presidential investigation panel for the recovery of public property and or possible arraignment of the Respondent.

The Motion was filed on behalf of the government by Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Festus keyomo, SAN.

While nine of the properties are in Nigeria, two are in London, eight in Dubai and three in the United States of America.

FG predicted the motion on section 330 of the Administration of criminal justice Act, 2015, section 8  of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act, section 44 (2) (k) of the 1999 constitution as a mended.

It listed as schedule A, 19 properties Ekweremadu Declared in the assets declaration Form he submitted before the code of conduct Bureau, CCB on June 5, 2015, seven properties he declared in June 1, 2007 as well as details of his investments in and outside Nigeria including his shares debentures & other securities.

The other properties not declared have addresses in every location. This reveals that “a Prima Facie case of breach of code of conduct for public officer has been made out against the respondents”. And also a written petition by Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice A.I. Umezulike (rtd).

Senator Ike Ekweremadu yesterday affirmed that he has no further assts to declare as he dared the special investigation panel to go ahead to seize whatever assets it claimed he did not properly declare. His statement affirmed by his special adviser, Media declared that the effort was a vendetta campaign shaped by 2019 politics given his claim that the panel actually sought and obtained his legally declared assets at the Code of Conduct Bureau.

“Without drawing attention to claims that the panel may have usurped the work of the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal, he said.

He also wishes to assure all his supporters and well-wishers that there is nothing to worry about.

Source: Daily post