The Federal Government is seeking an interim order of the Federal High Court, Abuja to temporary seize 22 prime properties/assets of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu located in London, Dubai, Florida, and Abuja, that were declared before the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.
The Motion Ex-Parte was brought before the court pursuant to: Section 330 Of The Administration Of Criminal Justice Act, 2015; Section 8 Of The Recovery Of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act and Section 44 (2)(K) Of The 1999 Constitution Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria (As Amended).
The case filed before the court on Wednesday by Festus Keyamo on behalf of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property prayed the court for an interim order of temporarily attaching/forfeiting the properties listed in Schedule B to the Federal Government of Nigeria pending the conclusion of further inquiry/investigation by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property and/or possible arraignment of the Respondent and for such orders as the Court might deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.
The grounds upon which the FG is seeking the interim order was that the properties listed in Schedule A hereunder were the properties declared by the Ekweremadu in his Assets Declaration Form at the Code of Conduct Bureau.
It said that on-going investigation/inquiries had revealed that the Properties listed in Schedule B also belong to the Respondent (Ekweremadu) and so belonged to him when he declared his assets in Schedule A.
Other grounds are: that the properties listed in Schedule B were not declared in the Assets Declaration Form of the Respondent and that preliminary investigation by the Applicant reveals that a prima facie case of a breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers has been made out against the Respondent.
In an affidavit deposed in support of the Motion Ex-parte, by Yohanna Shankuk, a litigation clerk in Festus Keyamo Chambers, it stated thus:
That from 1999 till date, the Respondent has been a public officer and has not earned anything outside his salaries and allowances as a public officer.
That the Respondent is the current Deputy Senate President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
That the Respondent was a former Chief of Staff to the Governor of Enugu State of Nigeria, 1999 – 2002.
That the Respondent was also a former Secretary to the Government of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2002 – 2003.
That the Respondent was elected to represent Enugu West Senatorial District in 2003 under the People Democratic Party (PDP).
That the Respondent has been Deputy Senate President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2007 till date.
That upon the assumption of office in 2007, the Assets Declaration the Respondent made in 2007 does not reveal that he had acquired so much money or properties prior to that date. Attached as EXHIBIT F is the 2007 Assets Declaration Form of the Respondent.
That within a space of 16 years (1999 – 2015), the investigation has revealed that the Respondent acquired all properties listed in Schedules A and B.
That in his 2015 Assets Declaration Form before the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Respondent only declared the properties listed in Schedule A. Attached as EXHIBIT G is a Certified True Copy of the Assets Declaration Form of the Respondent of 2015.
That the Respondent failed to declare the Assets listed in Schedule B.
That investigations have also revealed that even the total value of the properties listed in Schedule A is far above his total earnings as a public officer in the said 16-year period.
That it has become imperative for the Applicant to approach this Honourable Court for an Order temporarily attaching/forfeiting the said properties listed in Schedule B to the Federal Government of Nigeria pending the conclusion of further investigations and possible arraignment of the Respondent.
That without the orders of this Honourable Court attaching/forfeiting the said properties, the likelihood of the frustration of investigations as well as the dissipation of the said properties is very high.
That this matter is of utmost public interests and concern, to enable the Applicant to carry out a thorough investigation into the activities of the Respondent in the acquisition of the said properties as it relates to the allegation of a breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
That this Order is necessary to enable the Panel to carry out its statutory duties and functions of investigation and recovery of public properties.
Below are Ekweremadu’s undeclared assets
Properties Belonging To Ike Ekweremadu Not Declared In His Assets Declaration Forms In Abuja
i. No. 11, Evans Enwerem Street, Apo Legislative Quarters, Apo, Abuja.
ii. Plot 2633 Kyami, Abuja.
iii. Housing Estate (Plot 1106 CRD, Cadastral Zone 07-07, Lugbe, Abuja.
iv. Plot 2782 Asokoro Extension, Abuja.
v. Houses at Citi Park Estate, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
vi. Plot 1474 Cadastral Zone BD6, Mabushi, Abuja.
vii. Congress Court, Abuja.
viii. Flat 1, Block D25, Athletics Street, (24th Street) Games Village, Abuja.
ix. Plot 66, 64 Crescent, Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja.
Properties In London
i. Flat 4 Varsity Court, Harmer Street, WIH 4NW, London.
ii. 52 Ayleston Avenue, NW6 7AB, London.
Properties In Dubai
i. Room 1903, The Address Hotel, Downtown Dubai.
ii. The Address Boulevard, 3901, Dubai
iii. 2 Flats of Burij Side Boulevard (the signature), Dubai
iv. Emirate Gardens Apartment No. EGG1/1/114, Dubai.
v. Emirate Gardens Apartment No. EGG1/115, Dubai.
vi. Apartment No. DFB/12/B 1204, Park Towers, Dubai.
vii. Flat 3604, MAG214, Dubai.
viii. Villa No 148, Maeen 1, The Lakes Emirates Hills, Dubai.
Properties In Florida, USA.
i. 4507 Stella Street, Bellavida Estate Kissime, Florida, USA.
ii. 2747 Club Cortile Circle, Kissime, Florida, USA.
iii. 2763 Club Cortile Circle, Kissime, Florida, USA
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