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FORFEITURE ORDER ON HOUSES: Did EFCC mislead judge? Saraki thinks so, explains

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EFCC writes Clerk of the Senate, demands receipts, contract documents under Saraki

Former president of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki has said that Justice Mohammed Liman was misled to order an interim forfeiture of his houses in Ikoyi, Lagos.

He said he was sure that judgment would be vacated once earlier declarations of the Supreme Court on a matter related to his alleged offence “are brought before the court.”

Justice Liman, had sequel to an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday ordered that the property be temporary forfeiture to the federal government.

The judge also instructed that the EFCC should publish the order in a national newspaper within fourteen days, for anyone with interest in the properties to show cause, why they should not be finally forfeited to the federal government.

Saraki responding through a post on his verified Twitter handle, @bukolasaraki, wrote: “My attention has been drawn to an Order granted by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos pursuant to an ex-parte application by @officialEFCC. 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 @officialEFCC 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.

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“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.”

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