The scheduled hearing to determine final forfeiture of Lagos properties belonging the immediate past Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before a Federal High Court, today, has suffers set back.
The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Liman, was said to be in another jurisdiction of the court.
Consequently, EFCC lawyer, Mr. Nnaemeka Omewa, and a lawyer from Saraki’s legal team, Mr. Deji Oye agreed to come back on February 6, 2020 for hearing of the application.
Justice Liman had on October 21, fixed today, for hearing of the applications from any interested persons to show cause for the properties not to be permanently forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria, after granting EFCC’s motion for interim forfeiture of the said properties.
The said properties are located at 17 and 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Justice Liman had granted the exparte motion for the interim forfeiture of the two properties and affidavit deposed to by one Olamide Sadiq, which were argued by the lawyer to the EFCC, Mr. Nnaemeka Omewa.
In urging the court to forfeit the said properties in the interim, Omewa had told the court that the properties were suspected to have been acquired through proceeds of illicit funds by the former Senate President.
After granting the motion exparte, Justice Liman had ordered the EFCC to publish the order of forfeiture of the two properties in a National Daily within fourteen days for any interested party or parties to show cause while the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria.
While adjourned the matter till November 7, for report of compliance.
On November 7, the EFCC through its legal team led by Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court, of compliance with the court order and urged the court to made the interim order final.
However, Saraki’s legal team told the court that they were in court in respect of the properties and urged the to hear them.
But Mr. Oyedepo opposed the hearing arguing that the purpose of the proceedings was to inform the court of its compliance of publications.
Consequently, Justice Liman adjourned till today for hearing of all applications.
