Saraki Reacts As Court Orders Forfeiture Of Ikoyi Houses

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has reacted to the temporary forfeiture order on his houses in Ikoyi, Lagos State, by a Federal High Court.

Naija News reports that the Court had ordered the temporary forfeiture of two properties in Ikoyi belonging to Saraki.

Justice Mohammed Liman gave the ruling following an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The anti-corruption agency said the landed property “lying and known as No. 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi,” was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.

Reacting in a statement by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said the court was misled into giving that judgement.

The former Kwara State governor said neither him nor his legal team were aware of any application by the EFCC.

Saraki noted that the Supreme Court of Nigeria had earlier delivered judgement on the affected properties.

The statement reads, “We are sure the FHC judge in Lagos was not aware of all these facts and has therefore been misled into giving the temporary forfeiture order. The affected property, House Number 17 A and 17B, was specifically listed in the case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in which the EFCC was part of the prosecution and the case went up to the Supreme Court where the apex court in its July 6, 2018 judgement ruled in his favour.

“The Supreme Court has ruled that the source of funds for the purchase of the property was not illicit as claimed by the prosecution. On pages 12, 13 and 26 of the judgement of the highest court, this particular property on 17A McDonald Street, Ikoyi, was specifically referred to and the court upheld the no case submission of Dr. Saraki and therefore ruled in his favour.”

The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed confidence that the court will throw away the order it issued.

“We, therefore, call on all the friends, associates and supporters of Dr. Saraki to remain calm because we know this action will not stand when the court gets to hear the side of the former Senate President,” the statement added.