Court orders EFCC to return houses seized from Saraki

[Edoman]

Court orders EFCC to return houses seized from Saraki







The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) move to seek the final forfeiture of two houses in Ilorin belonging to former Senate President, Bukola Saraki to the federal government, was struck out by a Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday July 16. 
 
Recall that the EFCC had obtained a court order for the interim forfeiture of the houses – Plots No. 10 and No. 11 Abdulkadir Road, GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State in December 2019. The anti-graft agency alleged that the properties were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly perpetrated by Saraki while he was Kwara State Governor between 2003 and 2011.
 
Ruling on the case, Justice Rilwan Aikawa who stated that the evidence presented before the court was to the effect that the property was substantially financed with money paid to Saraki as a former governor, in line with the Kwara State Governor and Deputy Governor Payment of Pension Law, said EFCC's claim of properties being acquired with illegal funds was based on mere suspicion.
 
 

[Edoman]

Magu took his non-confirmation as substantive chairman of EFCC against me personally - Saraki









Former Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki has alleged that the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu, took out his anger of not being confirmed as the substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency against him personally. 

 

Reacting to the court judgement that ordered the return of his houses which was seized by the EFCC, Saraki insisted that the senate under his leadership “followed due process” in rejecting Magu.

 

The former senate president who stated that the last five years has been very challenging for him and his family, affirmed that the intention of the EFCC was to damage his reputation and that of his family. 

 

He said; 

 

“Today, as always, I thank Almighty Allah as I welcome the judgement of the Federal High Court, Lagos, by the Honorable Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa in which the court dismissed in its totality the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a forfeiture order on my home in Ilorin, Kwara state. 


“I am particularly happy that the court specifically ruled that there was no evidence that the property was built with any illicit or stolen funds from the Kwara state government or any other institution or quarter, whatsoever.


“The last five years have been very challenging for me and my family. I have endured and defeated one false allegation and malicious litigation after another, in an ill-motivated persecution, intimidation and harassment, through which some vested interests sought to damage my name and label me with charges of corruption but with the grace of Allah, I have always been victorious.


“I thank God for the outcome of this case which is the fifth victory in cases in which the EFCC was either the main investigating agency or the plaintiff.


“It is obvious that the EFCC leadership under its erstwhile acting chair, Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha Magu decided to take the issue of his non-confirmation by the 8th Senate which I led, personally.


“However, I know that the Senate under my leadership only followed the due and normal procedure during the confirmation process and we never executed any personal agenda against Magu. The records of the Senate during the period are there for the perusal of all Nigerians interested in the truth.


“It was directed at giving the wrong impression about me. As I record yet another vindication by the competent court of law, God’s willing, my focus will now shift to more serious issues. 


“It is important to put it on record that I hold no grudge against any individual for their roles in my trials.


“My experience in the last five years has only strengthened my faith in Almighty Allah, the Nigerian nation and her judiciary which has always risen above the din to give justice at all times and in all situations.”