The Lagos Division of the Federal High Court
has ordered the return of two houses
belonging to Bukola Saraki, a former Senate
President, which were previously forfeited to
the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).

Giving the order on Thursday, the Federal
Court judge, Rilwan Aikawa, said there is no
sufficient basis in the EFCC application for the
permanent forfeiture of Mr Saraki’s houses.

The judge, in December 2019, granted an
interim forfeiture of Mr Saraki’s houses
located at Plots No. 10 and No. 11 Abdulkadir
Road, GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State, through an ex
parte motion filed by the EFCC.

The EFCC told the court that Mr Saraki
acquired the properties through proceeds of
unlawful activities during his administration
as the governor of Kwara State.

The agency, in its application, said there is “a
damning intelligence report, showing
monumental fraud perpetrated in the treasury
of the Kwara State Government between 2003
and 2011.”

Justice Aikawa, while delivering a judgement
on EFCC’s application for permanent
forfeiture, upheld the earlier judgement and
ordered the release of the properties on
grounds that the motion lacked basis.

Mr Saraki had resisted the forfeiture of his
Ilorin houses on several occasions, saying the
act was a witch hunt by the EFCC.

“The EFCC’s claim that the Ilorin property was
built by any proceeds of fraud is outrightly
false. One can only see that EFCC is playing
politics and spreading falsehood in its cheap
attempt to witch-hunt and intimidate a
perceived enemy, ” Mr Saraki said.

Mr Saraki said the Ilorin property was built
partly by the Kwara State Government
pursuant to the Third Schedule of the
Governor and Deputy Governor (Payment of
Pension) Law 2010 while he funded the
remaining cost of the building with his
personal funds.

During the Thursday Judgement, Justice
Aikawa said he could not find his way
through to grant the permanent forfeiture
order. He ordered the release of Mr Saraki’s
Ilorin houses.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/403446-court-orders-return-of-sarakis-houses.html