Court orders EFCC to return Saraki’s houses


The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday reversed its order forfeiting to the Federal Government two houses in Ilorin belonging to a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

The court, in a judgment by Justice Rilwan Aikawa, released the houses back to Saraki, while delivering judgment on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, seeking to permanently forfeit the houses to the Federal Government.

The EFCC had in December last year secured a court order for the interim forfeiture of the houses – Plots No. 10 and No. 11 Abdulkadir Road, GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State – after telling the court that they were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly perpetrated by Saraki while he was Kwara State Governor between 2003 and 2011.

But attempts by the EFCC to convert the temporary forfeiture order to a permanent forfeiture order was vehemently resisted by Saraki, leading eventually to the discharge of the temporary forfeiture order on Thursday by Justice Aikawa.

The judge said he found no sufficient basis in the EFCC application and he could not “find my way through” to grant the permanent forfeiture order.

In its application, the EFCC had told the court how it received and investigated “a damning intelligence report, showing monumental fraud perpetrated in the treasury of the Kwara State Government between 2003 and 2011,” when Saraki was the governor of the state.

An operative of the EFCC, Olamide Sadiq said, “Whilst investigation was ongoing several fraudulent transactions were discovered.

“I know for a fact and verily believe that our investigation has revealed the following mind-boggling findings, among others:


“That between 2003 and 2011, Dr Olubukola Abubakar Saraki was the Executive Governor of Kwara State.

“That whilst he held the aforementioned position, the common pattern was that after payment of monthly allocation by the Federal Government to the Kwara State Government, a cumulative sum of not less than N100m will be deposited into the Kwara Government House account.

“That upon the payment of the said N100m, same will, in turn, be withdrawn in cash by one Mr Afeez Yusuf from the Kwara State Government House, Ilorin’s account in bits and brought to the Government House.”

https://punchng.com/court-orders-efcc-to-return-sarakis-houses/

The Court therefore ordered the Economic and financial crimes commission to return the former senate President’s houses.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa, who released the houses to Saraki, said he was not satisfied with the claims of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as to the origin of the properties.

The judge said he found insufficient basis in the EFCC application and he could not “find my way through” to grant the permanent forfeiture order.

Last December, Aikawa granted an order for the interim forfeiture of the houses – Plots No. 10 and No. 11 Abdulkadir Road, GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State – following the EFCC’s ex-parte application.

The anti-graft agency had claimed Saraki acquired the properties with proceeds of “monumental fraud perpetrated in the treasury of the Kwara State Government between 2003 and 2011,” when he was Governor.

“…Whilst he (Saraki) held the aforementioned position, the common pattern was that after payment of monthly allocation by the Federal Government to the Kwara State Government, a cumulative sum of not less than N100m will be deposited into the Kwara Government House account.


“Upon the payment of the said N100m, same will, in turn, be withdrawn in cash by one Mr Afeez Yusuf from the Kwara State Government House, Ilorin’s account in bits and brought to the Government House,” an operative of the EFCC, Olamide Sadiq, said.

The Commission prayed the court to convert the temporary forfeiture order to a permanent one.

But the former lawmaker resisted the application and contented among others that the EFCC’s lawsuit was malicious.

Saraki’s counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), also described the EFCC suit as an abuse of court process and an attempt to scandalise him.

He argued it was a ploy by the EFCC to review the July 6, 2018 decision of the Supreme Court “discharging the applicant from culpability arising from the same money and houses which are the subject matter of this action.”

https://punchng.com/court-orders-efcc-to-return-sarakis-houses/

Good

Saraki is lucky Magu didn't convert the house to his .

Magu is a thief

Righteousness will always be vindicated.

SLAP44:
Righteousness will always be vindicated.

House wey Magu bin wan convert to his personal property but chukwu Aju

Sometime, the devil will try to take that which belong to you, it can only delayed but not be deny ,God pass them Mr. Saraki

"...It was a ploy by the EFCC to review the July 6, 2018 decision of the Supreme Court “discharging the applicant from culpability arising from the same money and houses which are the subject matter of this action.”

Saraki as any public officer holder may have abused the privilege but EFCC media propaganda trial have never yielded any meaningful conviction.

Magu is losing his 380 houses, one after the other.

Lol

The judiciary still remain the last hope of the common man ...

Great

Efcc and their campaign of calumny failed again

This news go pain Zombies

Maxymilliano:
The judiciary still remain the last hope of the common man ...

Am sure u are been sarcastic, Saraki a common man?

When cat is not around, rat perpetrated his act

Politheifcians everywhere

SLAP44:
Righteousness will always be vindicated.

Oga I don't agree with you in this one.
I like Saraki but he is corrupt, selfish and greedy just like every single Nigerian politician.

Saraki u are a great man congratulations sir shame on ur enemies

This is what you get from Media trial instead of doing your job thoroughly

Magu is a mumu

Thief magu, thief magu, thief magu! If it were in China that thief would have sent to join his ancestors.
Nigeria is a land of conscienceless criminals.

SLAP44:
Righteousness will always be vindicated.

Saraki is a greedy thief who stole Kwara dry. That he got away with this case doesn’t change the fact that he’s a rogue and a treasury looter.

hmmm

seunmsg:


Saraki is a greedy thief who stole Kwara dry. That he got away with this case doesn’t change the fact that he’s a rogue and a treasury looter.

What of Buhari?

If you must have your way in Nigeria, you must learn how to press button even if you stole 10 trillion naira. It's quite unfortunate that these men have mastered this antics and that's why they are never perturbed whenever they steal and are brought before a court of competent jurisdiction they know they will surely have their way. Corruption is now an occupation in Nigeria

Which court, the Oga at the top's court?