Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has condemned the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which ordered Senator Ike Ekweremadu to forfeit his 40 landed properties.
Ohanaeze Faults Court Decision Against Ekweremadu
KanyiDaily recalls that on Friday, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seize 40 properties linked to Ekweremadu.
The EFCC told the court that the landed properties, 10 of which are located in Enugu, three in the United States of America, USA, two in the United Kingdom, UK, one in Lagos, nine in Dubai, and 15 located in the Federal Capital Territory, are suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of crime.
Reacting in a statement on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze faulted the ‘hasty judgment’ passed on Ekweremadu who is undergoing some travails in the United Kingdom falls short of ethical standards and natural justice.
Ohanaeze insisted that Ekweremadu should be given the opportunity to defend himself on his properties, and if found wanting should surely face the consequences.
The statement reads, “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide condemns the hasty judgment passed by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court to the effect that Sen. Prof. Ike Ekweremadu should forfeit his 40 landed properties.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo stands on a moral probity to state that a hasty exparte motion filed by the EFCC on a man who is undergoing some travails in the United Kingdom falls short of ethical standards and natural justice.
“We maintain that Sen. Ike Ekweremadu should be given the opportunity to defend himself on his properties; and if found wanting should surely face the consequences.
“We are aware that there are several allegations of corruption cases pending in the EFCC but the urgency and selective judgment in the case of Ekweremadu is not only curious but indeed true to type.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls on all the Nigerian legal luminaries of goodwill to intervene against gradual steps towards totalitarianism.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Ike Ekweremadu is currently in the custody of the law enforcement agencies in London where he is undergoing trial over his alleged attempt to harvest organ of a minor.