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Court declines to make forfeiture order on Saraki's properties permanent

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Monday, declined to make permanent, the interim order it made forfeiting former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki’s properties in Lagos to the Federal Government.

The interim order was made at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The EFCC had through its counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, prayed the court to make permanent, the order forfeiting Senator Saraki’s properties at No. 17 and 17B Macdonald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The EFCC had contended that the properties were acquired illegally with funds belonging to Kwara State Government.

However, Senator Saraki through his counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, raised a preliminary objection in opposition to the suit.

The application was argued on March 5, 2020, and the court adjourned for ruling.

In his ruling, yesterday, trial judge, Justice Hassan Liman held that the court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

The court further held that the evidence before the court was to the effect that the properties in issue were acquired by Senator Saraki with a loan from a bank (Name withheld) and not with illegal or unlawful funds or funds belonging to Kwara State Government.

The court further held that there was no evidence before the court linking the loan repayments made by Senator Saraki to funds belonging to Kwara State Government, therefore, there was no basis for ordering the forfeiture of the properties.

The court held that in view of the inconsistencies and contradictions in the affidavits deposed to and relied upon by EFCC, it could not make a forfeiture order in favour of EFCC, hence, the proper course of action would be to order the witnesses of the EFCC to give oral evidence for the purpose of clarifying the said contradictions.

The court accordingly adjourned further hearing in the matter to September 29, 2020, for EFCC to call its witnesses.

engineerboat:
Court declines to make forfeiture order on Saraki's properties permanent


A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Monday, declined to make permanent, the interim order it made forfeiting former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki’s properties in Lagos to the Federal Government.

The interim order was made at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The EFCC had through its counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, prayed the court to make permanent, the order forfeiting Senator Saraki’s properties at No. 17 and 17B Macdonald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The EFCC had contended that the properties were acquired illegally with funds belonging to Kwara State Government.

However, Senator Saraki through his counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, raised a preliminary objection in opposition to the suit.

The application was argued on March 5, 2020, and the court adjourned for ruling.

In his ruling, yesterday, trial judge, Justice Hassan Liman held that the court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

The court further held that the evidence before the court was to the effect that the properties in issue were acquired by Senator Saraki with a loan from a bank (Name withheld) and not with illegal or unlawful funds or funds belonging to Kwara State Government.


The court further held that there was no evidence before the court linking the loan repayments made by Senator Saraki to funds belonging to Kwara State Government, therefore, there was no basis for ordering the forfeiture of the properties.

The court held that in view of the inconsistencies and contradictions in the affidavits deposed to and relied upon by EFCC, it could not make a forfeiture order in favour of EFCC, hence, the proper course of action would be to order the witnesses of the EFCC to give oral evidence for the purpose of clarifying the said contradictions.


The court accordingly adjourned further hearing in the matter to September 29, 2020, for EFCC to call its witnesses


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/court-declines-to-make-forfeiture-order-on-sarakis-properties-permanent/

ThatFairGuy:
Nonsensical. Someone that joined politics since inception of this 4th Republic. He's been in political offices since 1999-2019. Did he practiced his profession up to a decade? No. How did he now amass those wealth if not from Corruption. Namby-pamby judgement

iokpebholo:
stop hating sir,Saraki was from a very wealthy background and was very rich even before 1999 unlike bourdillion Lord who was as poor as a church rat in 1999 but today commanding billion and yet ppl still worship him

ThatFairGuy:
Nonsensical. Someone that joined politics since inception of this 4th Republic. He's been in political offices since 1999-2019. Did he practiced his profession up to a decade? No. How did he now amass those wealth if not from Corruption. Namby-pamby judgement

ThatFairGuy:
That's just the reality, but you didn't get your facts right. You're just hating about Tinubu's matter. Tinubu has a first class graduate worked outside the country with oil company. He has been with Chief MKO Abiola during his struggles, he contested and won senatorial seat in 1992 then. How do you describe poor people please?

ThatFairGuy:
Nonsensical. Someone that joined politics since inception of this 4th Republic. He's been in political offices since 1999-2019. Did he practiced his profession up to a decade? No. How did he now amass those wealth if not from Corruption. Namby-pamby judgement