Saraki Reacts to Court Order on Forfeiture of Properties

The former Senate President of Nigeria, Bukola Saraki has faulted Monday’s judgement of a federal High Court in Lagos that ordered the interim forfeiture of two properties located in Ikoyi area of Lagos state.

In a statement issued through his official Twitter handle, Saraki said the court was not informed about a pending court action in Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,(EFCC) from taking further steps on the properties.

See statement

“My attention has been drawn to an Order granted by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos pursuant to an ex-parte application by EFCC.

“It is my belief that the Judge was misled into granting this Order and was not presented with the full position of the law or the facts.

“It is my belief that the Court was not informed of a pending Order of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja restraining from taking any steps regarding the seizure of the property in question pending the determination of a suit filed before that Court.

“I also believe that the Court was not made aware that the property in question formed part of the judgment of the Court given on July 6, 2018 where the Supreme Court declared that the source of funds for the purchase of the property was not illicit as claimed by the prosecution.

“The Supreme Court specifically referred to No 17a McDonald Road, Ikoyi on pages 12, 13 and 26 of its judgment upholding the no-case submission made before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

“I am confident that once these facts and the declaration of the Supreme Court are brought before the Court, this Order will be vacated. My lawyers will be approaching the Court immediately to achieve this” he said.