“If Ekweremadu’s accusation is true, then EFCC has reached an intolerable state of weaponised politicisation”
It has been circuitous journey for the former Deputy Senate President of Nigeria, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who is detained in London over alleged case of “conspiracy” to harvest organs of a Nigerian minor. But recently, anxieties were provoked when Ekweremadu broke open what is long-believed were mythical figures behind the intricate and sprawling conspiracy to keep him imprisoned.
Ekweremadu’s accusation for the first time apparently corroborated the popular opinions that there were actually shadowy sponsors of his ordeal. His eldest son Lloyd Ekweremadu has vehemently accused EFCC for his father’s travails in the United Kingdom.
At the Federal High Court in Abuja, Ekweremadu had told Justice Inyang Ekwo that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was responsible for his travails at the London Court where he had been in detention over alleged organ harvest.
Ekweremadu told the Federal High Court that the EFCC wrote a letter to the London Court which made the foreign court refuse to admit him to bail.
His allegations were contained in an application he filed before the court seeking an order of the court to set aside interim order granted in favour of the Federal Government for forfeiture of his 40 properties in the country and outside the country.
The ex-Deputy Senate President, in the application by his counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), claimed that the forfeiture order was granted to the Federal Government in error because the EFCC suppressed information and facts in respect of the properties.
Ekweremadu who has been detained since June 21, 2022, alleged that the EFCC fraudulently obtained the forfeiture order for the government by concealing information that the investigation on the 40 properties started as far back as 2008.
He said that the anti-graft agency deliberately refused to disclose to the court that he was in London detention and would not be able to counter the forfeiture request.
Ekweremadu, 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, Silvanus Tahir (SAN), denied that the commission was behind Ekweremadu’s ordeal, but admitted that EFCC wrote the London Court based on a special request. He said 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 the request for a stay of proceedings till Ekweremadu fully resolve his matter before the London Court but however, vehemently opposed the request for setting aside the forfeiture order.
Justice 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 property 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.
The Judge, who granted the motion, ordered the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order of the property in a national daily within seven days.
He had directed anybody who has an interest in the forfeited property to indicate within 14 days of the publication of the interim forfeiture order why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, Senator Ekweremadu eldest son Lloyd Ekweremadu accused EFCC for his father’s travails, stating that the agency’s EFCC letter to the Metropolitan Police made the prosecuting authority to opposed his father’s bail application.
Also, the Senator’s kinsmen have expressed dismay at the attempts by the EFCC to truncate every effort to have their son back home.
If Ekweremadu’s accusation is true, then EFCC has reached an intolerable state of weaponised politicisation.
By Chidipeters Okorie, TimeAfrica, Nigeria
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