The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered the temporary forfeiture of two property in Ikoyi, Lagos State belonging to former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to the Federal Government.

The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Liman ordered the temporary forfeiture of the said property following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

The EFCC said the landed property located at No. 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity. 

In a supporting affidavit, the anti-graft agency alleged that Saraki, who served two terms as the governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011 ‘withdrew over N12 billion cash from the account of the Kwara State Government and paid same into his accounts domiciled in Access and Zenith Banks through one of his personal assistants, Abdul Adama at different intervals’. 

Counsel to the EFCC, Nnaemeka Omewa said the court was empowered by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to order the temporary forfeiture of the landed asset to the Federal Government, which Justice Liman concurred with.

After ordering the temporary forfeiture of the property, Justice Liman directed the anti-graft agency to publish the order in a national newspaper.

He thereafter gave 14 days for Saraki or anyone interested in the property in question to appear before the court to show cause why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.