EFCC frustrated my bail application in London –Ekweremadu

The senator, who has been in custody in London over alleged organ harvesting, told the Abuja division of the Federal High Court that the anti-graft agency wrote a letter to the London court, which denied him bail.

Ekweremadu’s allegations were contained in an application he filed before the Nigerian court seeking order of the court to set aside an interim order granted in favour of the Federal Government for forfeiture of his 40 properties within and outside the country.

In the application brought by his counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, Ekweremadu claimed that the forfeiture order was granted the federal government in error, because the EFCC suppressed information and facts in respect of the properties.

Specifically, the detained senator alleged that the EFCC fraudulently obtained the forfeiture order for the government by concealing information that investigation on the 40 properties started as far back as 2008.

Among others, he alleged that the EFCC was fully aware that he was in detention in London when the application for forfeiture of the properties was filed and argued. He said the anti-graft agency deliberately refused to disclose to the court that he was in detention in London and would not be able to counter the forfeiture request. The senator, therefore, prayed the court to set aside the forfeiture order and stay proceedings in the matter until he resolves his ordeal before the London court.

However, counsel to the EFCC, Mr Silvanus Tahir, SAN, denied that his client was behind Ekweremadu’s ordeal. He, however, admitted that EFCC wrote the London court based on a special request, adding that it was a normal routine for anti-graft agencies to exchange information that would be of help to one another. Tahir did not oppose request for stay of proceedings till Ekweremadu fully resolved his matter before the London court, but, however, vehemently opposed the request for setting aside of the forfeiture order.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, after taking arguments from parties, fixed January 25 next year for ruling in the matter.

The court had, on Friday, November 4, ordered  interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties linked to Ekweremadu in some parts of the country and outside the country. Justice  Ekwo issued the order following an ex parte motion filed and moved by Ibrahim Buba, lawyer to the EFCC.

-sun