The federal high court Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of two properties in the Ikoyi area of Lagos state, linked to Bukola Saraki, former senate president, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges were acquired through “proceeds of unlawful activities”.
Justice Mohammed Liman gave the order on Monday for interim forfeiture of the two properties.
He instructed that the EFCC should publish the order in a national newspaper within 14 days, for anyone with interest in the properties to show cause, why they should not be finally forfeited to the federal government.
EFCC counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa had approached the court, seeking an order of interim forfeiture of the properties located at 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Eti Osa local government area of Lagos, telling the court that they were acquired through “proceeds of unlawful activities”.
The anti-graft agency had sought, among other things, “An order of this honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria landed property with appurtenances situate, lying and known as No. 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State found and recovered from the respondent which property is reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity”.
According to the EFCC, while serving as governor, Saraki withdrew over N12 billion cash from the account of the Kwara government and paid same into his accounts domiciled in Access and Zenith Banks through one of his personal assistant, Abdul Adama.
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