[News] Court sets aside forfeiture order against Saraki’s properties

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) application for the final forfeiture of two Ikoyi houses belonging to a former Senate President Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has been struck out by Justice Liman Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

 

The court had earlier refused to grant the application of the EFCC for a final forfeiture order of the properties at No. 17 and 17 A Mc Donald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos and instead took oral evidence and adjourned.

 

Justice Mohammed Liman struck out the case on Thursday March 4, on grounds of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission failing to show that the funds used to purchase the property were proceeds of corruption.

 

The Judge who agreed with Mr Saraki’s lawyer that the burden of proof for final forfeiture is on the preponderance of evidence, said the EFCC failed to show that the monies used to purchase the properties were from the Kwara State Government House account.

 

The court further held that the evidence of the transactions presented by the EFCC was in respect of transactions made after he had purchased the property and the proceeds used for the purchase were legal,  that is loans.