Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of Saraki’s Property

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, ordered the interim forfeiture of two properties belonging to the immediate past Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The properties said to be located at Ikoyi area of Lagos state, were alleged to be acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.

The Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in an exparte application filed by the commission’s lawyer, Nnaemeka Omewa, approached the court seeking an order of interim forfeiture of the properties.

Delivering ruling on the application, Justice Mohammed Liman, who ordered the interim forfeiture of the two properties said the EFCC should publish the order in a national daily within fourteen days and further the matter for report of compliance with the order of court.

The commission had sought for four orders before Justice Liman, in respect of the controversial property.

Justice Liman relying on the documents attached to the matter resolved all the issues raised in favour of the EFCC.

Part of the affidavit reads, “Trend of cash lodgments into Saraki’s account became suspicious and in order to further disguise the source and origin of this money, the respondent changed the pattern of payment and started making payments into exhibit EFCC 3 using fictitious names.”

The EFCC further alleged that Saraki, while serving as the executive Governor of Kwara State withdrew over N12 billion cash from the account of the Kwara government, and paid directly into his account domiciled in Access and Zenith banks, through one of his personal assistant, Abdul Adama, at different intervals.