Ekweremadu should tell Nigerians how he acquired 40 properties – Inibehe

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, permission to temporarily seize 40 properties they allegedly traced to Ike Ekweremadu.

This is coming months after the former deputy president of the Senate has been in detention in the United Kingdom following the allegation of an organ trafficking of a minor.

The trial judge ordered the antigraft agency to publish the Interim forfeiture order in a national daily within seven days from the date to the Order was given.

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://youtu.be/PgZM59M-1Vk” lightbox=0 lightboxsize=1 lightboxwidth=960 lightboxheight=540 autoopen=0 autoopendelay=0 autoclose=0 lightboxtitle=”” lightboxgroup=”” lightboxshownavigation=0 showimage=”” lightboxoptions=”” videowidth=600 videoheight=400 keepaspectratio=1 autoplay=0 loop=0 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://www.tvcnews.tv/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

The presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, gave the order following an exparte motion filed by the EFCC.

The interim forfeiture order includes 10 properties in Enugu, 3 in the United States of America, 2 in United Kingdom, 1 in Lagos, 9 in Dubai and 15 in the federal capital territory, FCT.

Lawyer and Public Affairs Analyst, Inibehe Effiong said on Monday’s edition of TVCBreakfast with Veronica Dan-Ikpoyi and Sam Omatseye, that his first impression when he read about the interim forfeiture given by the court was that he pondered and wondered whether the former Deputy President of the Senate was a property developer, is he into buying and selling of properties, given that he’s a public officeholder, is he allowed to engage in such business? Otherwise, what is he doing with the properties and how did he acquire them, were those properties acquired legitimately, if truly these properties belong to him.

Mr Inibehe said he was also marveled that the properties are spread across different parts of the country and even abroad.

According to him, there seems to be some federal character in the ownership and location of these properties.

The Lawyer added that he was worried about the timing of the properties, especially if they were recently acquired when the EFCC began to investigate the ownership of this property

“Ike Ekweremadu has been in the country for quite a while before he ran into legal troubles with the UK authorities. Why were these properties not targeted before now?

“These are legitimate questions, but there is also a more fundamental question, subject to when we are able to see the actual court order and the application file, which is, can the Federal Court in Abuja make a binding order regarding properties that are located outside the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

According to Inibehe, under the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act, the EFCC Establishment Act, the Antimoney Laundering Act, and other enabling legislations, and under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is doubtful whether a court in Nigeria can assume extraterritorial jurisdiction regarding persons or properties that are outside the territory of Nigeria.

“My understanding of the law is that, if a crime is committed, presumably outside Nigeria, whether in terms of money laundering, acquisition of properties abroad under the legal mutual assistance treaty, If there is evidence that these properties are possessed of crime, and there is a way to prove that, I would have thought the procedure would be to contact the Metropolitan Police or some other authorities in the UK to have those assets confiscated.”

Further, Mr Effiong stated that as a Nigerian, he was eager to hear how the former Deputy President of the Senate obtained 40 properties.

Some have also made the moral argument that Ike Ekweremadu is already going through enough troubles, why not show empathy.

Mr. Effiong stated that people who deserve empathy are the victims of what he has been representing, and that they have the right to question him about how he came to have those properties.

“We always speak about showing empathy to the ruling class. The citizens are also going through problems in the legal system every day.

“The point is that, there are some legal questions that requires clarification regarding the proprietary of this order.

On how the properties were linked to the former Deputy Senate Present, Mr Inibehe Effiong said, by the time one is able to look at the application file, possibly an answer will suffice.

” As a Nigerian, if I have a senator who is a property developer who has acquired 40 properties, I would want to know where and how he got them.

Inibehe added that it also behooves on the antigraft agency to be fair-minded as to why he was not targeted before now.

 

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, permission to temporarily seize 40 properties they allegedly traced to Ike Ekweremadu.

This is coming months after the former deputy president of the Senate has been in detention in the United Kingdom following the allegation of an organ trafficking of a minor.

The trial judge ordered the antigraft agency to publish the Interim forfeiture order in a national daily within seven days from the date to the Order was given.

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://youtu.be/PgZM59M-1Vk” lightbox=0 lightboxsize=1 lightboxwidth=960 lightboxheight=540 autoopen=0 autoopendelay=0 autoclose=0 lightboxtitle=”” lightboxgroup=”” lightboxshownavigation=0 showimage=”” lightboxoptions=”” videowidth=600 videoheight=400 keepaspectratio=1 autoplay=0 loop=0 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://www.tvcnews.tv/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

The presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, gave the order following an exparte motion filed by the EFCC.

The interim forfeiture order includes 10 properties in Enugu, 3 in the United States of America, 2 in United Kingdom, 1 in Lagos, 9 in Dubai and 15 in the federal capital territory, FCT.

Lawyer and Public Affairs Analyst, Inibehe Effiong said on Monday’s edition of TVCBreakfast with Veronica Dan-Ikpoyi and Sam Omatseye, that his first impression when he read about the interim forfeiture given by the court was that he pondered and wondered whether the former Deputy President of the Senate was a property developer, is he into buying and selling of properties, given that he’s a public officeholder, is he allowed to engage in such business? Otherwise, what is he doing with the properties and how did he acquire them, were those properties acquired legitimately, if truly these properties belong to him.

Mr Inibehe said he was also marveled that the properties are spread across different parts of the country and even abroad.

According to him, there seems to be some federal character in the ownership and location of these properties.

The Lawyer added that he was worried about the timing of the properties, especially if they were recently acquired when the EFCC began to investigate the ownership of this property

“Ike Ekweremadu has been in the country for quite a while before he ran into legal troubles with the UK authorities. Why were these properties not targeted before now?

“These are legitimate questions, but there is also a more fundamental question, subject to when we are able to see the actual court order and the application file, which is, can the Federal Court in Abuja make a binding order regarding properties that are located outside the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

According to Inibehe, under the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act, the EFCC Establishment Act, the Antimoney Laundering Act, and other enabling legislations, and under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is doubtful whether a court in Nigeria can assume extraterritorial jurisdiction regarding persons or properties that are outside the territory of Nigeria.

“My understanding of the law is that, if a crime is committed, presumably outside Nigeria, whether in terms of money laundering, acquisition of properties abroad under the legal mutual assistance treaty, If there is evidence that these properties are possessed of crime, and there is a way to prove that, I would have thought the procedure would be to contact the Metropolitan Police or some other authorities in the UK to have those assets confiscated.”

Further, Mr Effiong stated that as a Nigerian, he was eager to hear how the former Deputy President of the Senate obtained 40 properties.

Some have also made the moral argument that Ike Ekweremadu is already going through enough troubles, why not show empathy.

Mr. Effiong stated that people who deserve empathy are the victims of what he has been representing, and that they have the right to question him about how he came to have those properties.

“We always speak about showing empathy to the ruling class. The citizens are also going through problems in the legal system every day.

“The point is that, there are some legal questions that requires clarification regarding the proprietary of this order.

On how the properties were linked to the former Deputy Senate Present, Mr Inibehe Effiong said, by the time one is able to look at the application file, possibly an answer will suffice.

” As a Nigerian, if I have a senator who is a property developer who has acquired 40 properties, I would want to know where and how he got them.

Inibehe added that it also behooves on the antigraft agency to be fair-minded as to why he was not targeted before now.

 

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, permission to temporarily seize 40 properties they allegedly traced to Ike Ekweremadu.

This is coming months after the former deputy president of the Senate has been in detention in the United Kingdom following the allegation of an organ trafficking of a minor.

The trial judge ordered the antigraft agency to publish the Interim forfeiture order in a national daily within seven days from the date to the Order was given.

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://youtu.be/PgZM59M-1Vk” lightbox=0 lightboxsize=1 lightboxwidth=960 lightboxheight=540 autoopen=0 autoopendelay=0 autoclose=0 lightboxtitle=”” lightboxgroup=”” lightboxshownavigation=0 showimage=”” lightboxoptions=”” videowidth=600 videoheight=400 keepaspectratio=1 autoplay=0 loop=0 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://www.tvcnews.tv/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

The presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, gave the order following an exparte motion filed by the EFCC.

The interim forfeiture order includes 10 properties in Enugu, 3 in the United States of America, 2 in United Kingdom, 1 in Lagos, 9 in Dubai and 15 in the federal capital territory, FCT.

Lawyer and Public Affairs Analyst, Inibehe Effiong said on Monday’s edition of TVCBreakfast with Veronica Dan-Ikpoyi and Sam Omatseye, that his first impression when he read about the interim forfeiture given by the court was that he pondered and wondered whether the former Deputy President of the Senate was a property developer, is he into buying and selling of properties, given that he’s a public officeholder, is he allowed to engage in such business? Otherwise, what is he doing with the properties and how did he acquire them, were those properties acquired legitimately, if truly these properties belong to him.

Mr Inibehe said he was also marveled that the properties are spread across different parts of the country and even abroad.

According to him, there seems to be some federal character in the ownership and location of these properties.

The Lawyer added that he was worried about the timing of the properties, especially if they were recently acquired when the EFCC began to investigate the ownership of this property

“Ike Ekweremadu has been in the country for quite a while before he ran into legal troubles with the UK authorities. Why were these properties not targeted before now?

“These are legitimate questions, but there is also a more fundamental question, subject to when we are able to see the actual court order and the application file, which is, can the Federal Court in Abuja make a binding order regarding properties that are located outside the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

According to Inibehe, under the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act, the EFCC Establishment Act, the Antimoney Laundering Act, and other enabling legislations, and under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is doubtful whether a court in Nigeria can assume extraterritorial jurisdiction regarding persons or properties that are outside the territory of Nigeria.

“My understanding of the law is that, if a crime is committed, presumably outside Nigeria, whether in terms of money laundering, acquisition of properties abroad under the legal mutual assistance treaty, If there is evidence that these properties are possessed of crime, and there is a way to prove that, I would have thought the procedure would be to contact the Metropolitan Police or some other authorities in the UK to have those assets confiscated.”

Further, Mr Effiong stated that as a Nigerian, he was eager to hear how the former Deputy President of the Senate obtained 40 properties.

Some have also made the moral argument that Ike Ekweremadu is already going through enough troubles, why not show empathy.

Mr. Effiong stated that people who deserve empathy are the victims of what he has been representing, and that they have the right to question him about how he came to have those properties.

“We always speak about showing empathy to the ruling class. The citizens are also going through problems in the legal system every day.

“The point is that, there are some legal questions that requires clarification regarding the proprietary of this order.

On how the properties were linked to the former Deputy Senate Present, Mr Inibehe Effiong said, by the time one is able to look at the application file, possibly an answer will suffice.

” As a Nigerian, if I have a senator who is a property developer who has acquired 40 properties, I would want to know where and how he got them.

Inibehe added that it also behooves on the antigraft agency to be fair-minded as to why he was not targeted before now.

 

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, permission to temporarily seize 40 properties they allegedly traced to Ike Ekweremadu.

This is coming months after the former deputy president of the Senate has been in detention in the United Kingdom following the allegation of an organ trafficking of a minor.

The trial judge ordered the antigraft agency to publish the Interim forfeiture order in a national daily within seven days from the date to the Order was given.

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://youtu.be/PgZM59M-1Vk” lightbox=0 lightboxsize=1 lightboxwidth=960 lightboxheight=540 autoopen=0 autoopendelay=0 autoclose=0 lightboxtitle=”” lightboxgroup=”” lightboxshownavigation=0 showimage=”” lightboxoptions=”” videowidth=600 videoheight=400 keepaspectratio=1 autoplay=0 loop=0 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://www.tvcnews.tv/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

The presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, gave the order following an exparte motion filed by the EFCC.

The interim forfeiture order includes 10 properties in Enugu, 3 in the United States of America, 2 in United Kingdom, 1 in Lagos, 9 in Dubai and 15 in the federal capital territory, FCT.

Lawyer and Public Affairs Analyst, Inibehe Effiong said on Monday’s edition of TVCBreakfast with Veronica Dan-Ikpoyi and Sam Omatseye, that his first impression when he read about the interim forfeiture given by the court was that he pondered and wondered whether the former Deputy President of the Senate was a property developer, is he into buying and selling of properties, given that he’s a public officeholder, is he allowed to engage in such business? Otherwise, what is he doing with the properties and how did he acquire them, were those properties acquired legitimately, if truly these properties belong to him.

Mr Inibehe said he was also marveled that the properties are spread across different parts of the country and even abroad.

According to him, there seems to be some federal character in the ownership and location of these properties.

The Lawyer added that he was worried about the timing of the properties, especially if they were recently acquired when the EFCC began to investigate the ownership of this property

“Ike Ekweremadu has been in the country for quite a while before he ran into legal troubles with the UK authorities. Why were these properties not targeted before now?

“These are legitimate questions, but there is also a more fundamental question, subject to when we are able to see the actual court order and the application file, which is, can the Federal Court in Abuja make a binding order regarding properties that are located outside the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

According to Inibehe, under the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act, the EFCC Establishment Act, the Antimoney Laundering Act, and other enabling legislations, and under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is doubtful whether a court in Nigeria can assume extraterritorial jurisdiction regarding persons or properties that are outside the territory of Nigeria.

“My understanding of the law is that, if a crime is committed, presumably outside Nigeria, whether in terms of money laundering, acquisition of properties abroad under the legal mutual assistance treaty, If there is evidence that these properties are possessed of crime, and there is a way to prove that, I would have thought the procedure would be to contact the Metropolitan Police or some other authorities in the UK to have those assets confiscated.”

Further, Mr Effiong stated that as a Nigerian, he was eager to hear how the former Deputy President of the Senate obtained 40 properties.

Some have also made the moral argument that Ike Ekweremadu is already going through enough troubles, why not show empathy.

Mr. Effiong stated that people who deserve empathy are the victims of what he has been representing, and that they have the right to question him about how he came to have those properties.

“We always speak about showing empathy to the ruling class. The citizens are also going through problems in the legal system every day.

“The point is that, there are some legal questions that requires clarification regarding the proprietary of this order.

On how the properties were linked to the former Deputy Senate Present, Mr Inibehe Effiong said, by the time one is able to look at the application file, possibly an answer will suffice.

” As a Nigerian, if I have a senator who is a property developer who has acquired 40 properties, I would want to know where and how he got them.

Inibehe added that it also behooves on the antigraft agency to be fair-minded as to why he was not targeted before now.

 

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, permission to temporarily seize 40 properties they allegedly traced to Ike Ekweremadu.

This is coming months after the former deputy president of the Senate has been in detention in the United Kingdom following the allegation of an organ trafficking of a minor.

The trial judge ordered the antigraft agency to publish the Interim forfeiture order in a national daily within seven days from the date to the Order was given.

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://youtu.be/PgZM59M-1Vk” lightbox=0 lightboxsize=1 lightboxwidth=960 lightboxheight=540 autoopen=0 autoopendelay=0 autoclose=0 lightboxtitle=”” lightboxgroup=”” lightboxshownavigation=0 showimage=”” lightboxoptions=”” videowidth=600 videoheight=400 keepaspectratio=1 autoplay=0 loop=0 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://www.tvcnews.tv/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

The presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, gave the order following an exparte motion filed by the EFCC.

The interim forfeiture order includes 10 properties in Enugu, 3 in the United States of America, 2 in United Kingdom, 1 in Lagos, 9 in Dubai and 15 in the federal capital territory, FCT.

Lawyer and Public Affairs Analyst, Inibehe Effiong said on Monday’s edition of TVCBreakfast with Veronica Dan-Ikpoyi and Sam Omatseye, that his first impression when he read about the interim forfeiture given by the court was that he pondered and wondered whether the former Deputy President of the Senate was a property developer, is he into buying and selling of properties, given that he’s a public officeholder, is he allowed to engage in such business? Otherwise, what is he doing with the properties and how did he acquire them, were those properties acquired legitimately, if truly these properties belong to him.

Mr Inibehe said he was also marveled that the properties are spread across different parts of the country and even abroad.

According to him, there seems to be some federal character in the ownership and location of these properties.

The Lawyer added that he was worried about the timing of the properties, especially if they were recently acquired when the EFCC began to investigate the ownership of this property

“Ike Ekweremadu has been in the country for quite a while before he ran into legal troubles with the UK authorities. Why were these properties not targeted before now?

“These are legitimate questions, but there is also a more fundamental question, subject to when we are able to see the actual court order and the application file, which is, can the Federal Court in Abuja make a binding order regarding properties that are located outside the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

According to Inibehe, under the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act, the EFCC Establishment Act, the Antimoney Laundering Act, and other enabling legislations, and under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is doubtful whether a court in Nigeria can assume extraterritorial jurisdiction regarding persons or properties that are outside the territory of Nigeria.

“My understanding of the law is that, if a crime is committed, presumably outside Nigeria, whether in terms of money laundering, acquisition of properties abroad under the legal mutual assistance treaty, If there is evidence that these properties are possessed of crime, and there is a way to prove that, I would have thought the procedure would be to contact the Metropolitan Police or some other authorities in the UK to have those assets confiscated.”

Further, Mr Effiong stated that as a Nigerian, he was eager to hear how the former Deputy President of the Senate obtained 40 properties.

Some have also made the moral argument that Ike Ekweremadu is already going through enough troubles, why not show empathy.

Mr. Effiong stated that people who deserve empathy are the victims of what he has been representing, and that they have the right to question him about how he came to have those properties.

“We always speak about showing empathy to the ruling class. The citizens are also going through problems in the legal system every day.

“The point is that, there are some legal questions that requires clarification regarding the proprietary of this order.

On how the properties were linked to the former Deputy Senate Present, Mr Inibehe Effiong said, by the time one is able to look at the application file, possibly an answer will suffice.

” As a Nigerian, if I have a senator who is a property developer who has acquired 40 properties, I would want to know where and how he got them.

Inibehe added that it also behooves on the antigraft agency to be fair-minded as to why he was not targeted before now.

 

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, permission to temporarily seize 40 properties they allegedly traced to Ike Ekweremadu.

This is coming months after the former deputy president of the Senate has been in detention in the United Kingdom following the allegation of an organ trafficking of a minor.

The trial judge ordered the antigraft agency to publish the Interim forfeiture order in a national daily within seven days from the date to the Order was given.

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://youtu.be/PgZM59M-1Vk” lightbox=0 lightboxsize=1 lightboxwidth=960 lightboxheight=540 autoopen=0 autoopendelay=0 autoclose=0 lightboxtitle=”” lightboxgroup=”” lightboxshownavigation=0 showimage=”” lightboxoptions=”” videowidth=600 videoheight=400 keepaspectratio=1 autoplay=0 loop=0 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://www.tvcnews.tv/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

The presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, gave the order following an exparte motion filed by the EFCC.

The interim forfeiture order includes 10 properties in Enugu, 3 in the United States of America, 2 in United Kingdom, 1 in Lagos, 9 in Dubai and 15 in the federal capital territory, FCT.

Lawyer and Public Affairs Analyst, Inibehe Effiong said on Monday’s edition of TVCBreakfast with Veronica Dan-Ikpoyi and Sam Omatseye, that his first impression when he read about the interim forfeiture given by the court was that he pondered and wondered whether the former Deputy President of the Senate was a property developer, is he into buying and selling of properties, given that he’s a public officeholder, is he allowed to engage in such business? Otherwise, what is he doing with the properties and how did he acquire them, were those properties acquired legitimately, if truly these properties belong to him.

Mr Inibehe said he was also marveled that the properties are spread across different parts of the country and even abroad.

According to him, there seems to be some federal character in the ownership and location of these properties.

The Lawyer added that he was worried about the timing of the properties, especially if they were recently acquired when the EFCC began to investigate the ownership of this property

“Ike Ekweremadu has been in the country for quite a while before he ran into legal troubles with the UK authorities. Why were these properties not targeted before now?

“These are legitimate questions, but there is also a more fundamental question, subject to when we are able to see the actual court order and the application file, which is, can the Federal Court in Abuja make a binding order regarding properties that are located outside the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

According to Inibehe, under the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act, the EFCC Establishment Act, the Antimoney Laundering Act, and other enabling legislations, and under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is doubtful whether a court in Nigeria can assume extraterritorial jurisdiction regarding persons or properties that are outside the territory of Nigeria.

“My understanding of the law is that, if a crime is committed, presumably outside Nigeria, whether in terms of money laundering, acquisition of properties abroad under the legal mutual assistance treaty, If there is evidence that these properties are possessed of crime, and there is a way to prove that, I would have thought the procedure would be to contact the Metropolitan Police or some other authorities in the UK to have those assets confiscated.”

Further, Mr Effiong stated that as a Nigerian, he was eager to hear how the former Deputy President of the Senate obtained 40 properties.

Some have also made the moral argument that Ike Ekweremadu is already going through enough troubles, why not show empathy.

Mr. Effiong stated that people who deserve empathy are the victims of what he has been representing, and that they have the right to question him about how he came to have those properties.

“We always speak about showing empathy to the ruling class. The citizens are also going through problems in the legal system every day.

“The point is that, there are some legal questions that requires clarification regarding the proprietary of this order.

On how the properties were linked to the former Deputy Senate Present, Mr Inibehe Effiong said, by the time one is able to look at the application file, possibly an answer will suffice.

” As a Nigerian, if I have a senator who is a property developer who has acquired 40 properties, I would want to know where and how he got them.

Inibehe added that it also behooves on the antigraft agency to be fair-minded as to why he was not targeted before now.

 

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, permission to temporarily seize 40 properties they allegedly traced to Ike Ekweremadu.

This is coming months after the former deputy president of the Senate has been in detention in the United Kingdom following the allegation of an organ trafficking of a minor.

The trial judge ordered the antigraft agency to publish the Interim forfeiture order in a national daily within seven days from the date to the Order was given.

[wonderplugin_video iframe=”https://youtu.be/PgZM59M-1Vk” lightbox=0 lightboxsize=1 lightboxwidth=960 lightboxheight=540 autoopen=0 autoopendelay=0 autoclose=0 lightboxtitle=”” lightboxgroup=”” lightboxshownavigation=0 showimage=”” lightboxoptions=”” videowidth=600 videoheight=400 keepaspectratio=1 autoplay=0 loop=0 videocss=”position:relative;display:block;background-color:#000;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;” playbutton=”https://www.tvcnews.tv/wp-content/plugins/wonderplugin-video-embed/engine/playvideo-64-64-0.png”]

The presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, gave the order following an exparte motion filed by the EFCC.

The interim forfeiture order includes 10 properties in Enugu, 3 in the United States of America, 2 in United Kingdom, 1 in Lagos, 9 in Dubai and 15 in the federal capital territory, FCT.

Lawyer and Public Affairs Analyst, Inibehe Effiong said on Monday’s edition of TVCBreakfast with Veronica Dan-Ikpoyi and Sam Omatseye, that his first impression when he read about the interim forfeiture given by the court was that he pondered and wondered whether the former Deputy President of the Senate was a property developer, is he into buying and selling of properties, given that he’s a public officeholder, is he allowed to engage in such business? Otherwise, what is he doing with the properties and how did he acquire them, were those properties acquired legitimately, if truly these properties belong to him.

Mr Inibehe said he was also marveled that the properties are spread across different parts of the country and even abroad.

According to him, there seems to be some federal character in the ownership and location of these properties.

The Lawyer added that he was worried about the timing of the properties, especially if they were recently acquired when the EFCC began to investigate the ownership of this property

“Ike Ekweremadu has been in the country for quite a while before he ran into legal troubles with the UK authorities. Why were these properties not targeted before now?

“These are legitimate questions, but there is also a more fundamental question, subject to when we are able to see the actual court order and the application file, which is, can the Federal Court in Abuja make a binding order regarding properties that are located outside the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

According to Inibehe, under the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act, the EFCC Establishment Act, the Antimoney Laundering Act, and other enabling legislations, and under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is doubtful whether a court in Nigeria can assume extraterritorial jurisdiction regarding persons or properties that are outside the territory of Nigeria.

“My understanding of the law is that, if a crime is committed, presumably outside Nigeria, whether in terms of money laundering, acquisition of properties abroad under the legal mutual assistance treaty, If there is evidence that these properties are possessed of crime, and there is a way to prove that, I would have thought the procedure would be to contact the Metropolitan Police or some other authorities in the UK to have those assets confiscated.”

Further, Mr Effiong stated that as a Nigerian, he was eager to hear how the former Deputy President of the Senate obtained 40 properties.

Some have also made the moral argument that Ike Ekweremadu is already going through enough troubles, why not show empathy.

Mr. Effiong stated that people who deserve empathy are the victims of what he has been representing, and that they have the right to question him about how he came to have those properties.

“We always speak about showing empathy to the ruling class. The citizens are also going through problems in the legal system every day.

“The point is that, there are some legal questions that requires clarification regarding the proprietary of this order.

On how the properties were linked to the former Deputy Senate Present, Mr Inibehe Effiong said, by the time one is able to look at the application file, possibly an answer will suffice.

” As a Nigerian, if I have a senator who is a property developer who has acquired 40 properties, I would want to know where and how he got them.

Inibehe added that it also behooves on the antigraft agency to be fair-minded as to why he was not targeted before now.

 

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, permission to temporarily seize 40 properties they allegedly traced to Ike Ekweremadu.

This is coming months after the former deputy president of the Senate has been in detention in the United Kingdom following the allegation of an organ trafficking of a minor.

The trial judge ordered the antigraft agency to publish the Interim forfeiture order in a national daily within seven days from the date to the Order was given.

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The presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, gave the order following an exparte motion filed by the EFCC.

The interim forfeiture order includes 10 properties in Enugu, 3 in the United States of America, 2 in United Kingdom, 1 in Lagos, 9 in Dubai and 15 in the federal capital territory, FCT.

Lawyer and Public Affairs Analyst, Inibehe Effiong said on Monday’s edition of TVCBreakfast with Veronica Dan-Ikpoyi and Sam Omatseye, that his first impression when he read about the interim forfeiture given by the court was that he pondered and wondered whether the former Deputy President of the Senate was a property developer, is he into buying and selling of properties, given that he’s a public officeholder, is he allowed to engage in such business? Otherwise, what is he doing with the properties and how did he acquire them, were those properties acquired legitimately, if truly these properties belong to him.

Mr Inibehe said he was also marveled that the properties are spread across different parts of the country and even abroad.

According to him, there seems to be some federal character in the ownership and location of these properties.

The Lawyer added that he was worried about the timing of the properties, especially if they were recently acquired when the EFCC began to investigate the ownership of this property

“Ike Ekweremadu has been in the country for quite a while before he ran into legal troubles with the UK authorities. Why were these properties not targeted before now?

“These are legitimate questions, but there is also a more fundamental question, subject to when we are able to see the actual court order and the application file, which is, can the Federal Court in Abuja make a binding order regarding properties that are located outside the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

According to Inibehe, under the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act, the EFCC Establishment Act, the Antimoney Laundering Act, and other enabling legislations, and under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is doubtful whether a court in Nigeria can assume extraterritorial jurisdiction regarding persons or properties that are outside the territory of Nigeria.

“My understanding of the law is that, if a crime is committed, presumably outside Nigeria, whether in terms of money laundering, acquisition of properties abroad under the legal mutual assistance treaty, If there is evidence that these properties are possessed of crime, and there is a way to prove that, I would have thought the procedure would be to contact the Metropolitan Police or some other authorities in the UK to have those assets confiscated.”

Further, Mr Effiong stated that as a Nigerian, he was eager to hear how the former Deputy President of the Senate obtained 40 properties.

Some have also made the moral argument that Ike Ekweremadu is already going through enough troubles, why not show empathy.

Mr. Effiong stated that people who deserve empathy are the victims of what he has been representing, and that they have the right to question him about how he came to have those properties.

“We always speak about showing empathy to the ruling class. The citizens are also going through problems in the legal system every day.

“The point is that, there are some legal questions that requires clarification regarding the proprietary of this order.

On how the properties were linked to the former Deputy Senate Present, Mr Inibehe Effiong said, by the time one is able to look at the application file, possibly an answer will suffice.

” As a Nigerian, if I have a senator who is a property developer who has acquired 40 properties, I would want to know where and how he got them.

Inibehe added that it also behooves on the antigraft agency to be fair-minded as to why he was not targeted before now.