The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the recovery of public property has on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) instituted an action against the Deputy Senate President of Nigeria, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the People’s Democratic Party.
The suit which was headed ‘In the matter of application by the Special Presidential Investigation panel for the recovery of public property for an order to temporarily attach/forfeit property of the respondent to the Federal Government pursuant to Section 330 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and Section 8 of the Recovery of Public Property (special provisions) Act’, before the Federal High Court with suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/284/2018, sought for an interim order of the court temporarily attaching/forfeiting the properties listed in Schedule B (Which was attached to the processes) 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.
The grounds upon which the motion was filed revealed that the properties listed in Schedule A so attached to the processes were the properties declared by the respondent in his Assets Declaration Form at the Code of Conduct Bureau; that on-going investigation/inquiries have revealed that the properties listed in Schedule B so attached, also belong to the Respondent and so belonged to him when he declared his assets in Schedule A.
According to the processes, the properties listed in Schedule B were not declared in the Assets Declaration Form of the Respondent and as such, a 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 attached to the motion exparte which was deposed to by one Yohanna Shankuk, a litigation clerk in Festus Keyamo Chambers, solicitors to the Applicant, it was revealed that: a petition against the Respondent written by Hon. (Justice) A.I. Umezulike, Retired Chief Judge of Enugu State, was forwarded to the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property set up by the President pursuant to the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act and that on receipt of the Petition, the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property commenced investigations and preliminary findings indicated that some of the properties allegedly owned by the Respondent actually belonged to him; that upon 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 and that investigations have also revealed that even the total value of the properties listed in Schedule A so attached is far above his total earnings as a public officer in the said 16-year period.
Below are the properties in Schedule A and B which are the subject of the suit.
SCHEDULE A
PROPERTIES DECLARED BY LAWRENCE IKE EKWEREMADU IN HIS ASSETS DECLARATION FORM DATED 5TH JUNE 2015
i. 5 Bedroom Duplex & Boys Quarters, House A40 Apo Quarters, Apo, Abuja (purportedly acquired with a loan of N13.5 Million from Bank PHB);
ii. 10 Bedroom House with Guest Chalet & Boy Quarters, 2 Jim Nwobodo Street, Apo, Abuja (purportedly acquired with a mortgage loan of N412, 200, 000.00 from Aso Savings & Loan);
iii. 7 Bedroom House with Pent House & Boy quarters, Plot 147A Mabushi, Abuja (purportedly valued at N3, 471, 922.1 acquired with salaries & allowances);
iv. 2 RM Apartment, MAG 214 Dubai (purportedly bought for $ 50,000.00);
v. 4 Bedroom Town House, The Lake Dubai (purportedly bought for $20,000.00);
vi. 4 RM Town House, Florida (he claims he bought this House from a loan of $155,000.00 gotten from PHB)
vii. Plots 2 & 10, Republic Layout, Enugu (undeveloped land, purportedly valued at N4 Million);
viii. Plot 1518, Maitama Extension, Abuja undeveloped land (purportedly valued at N10 Million);
ix. Plot 2882, Asokoro Extension, Abuja (purportedly valued at N13 Million);
x. 2 RM Apartment, Burjside Boulevard, Dubai, UAE (he claims he bought it for $250,000.00);
xi. One Room Apartment, Emirate Garden, Dubai, UAE (He claims he bought it for $60,000.00);
xii. Park Tower, Dubai, UAE (He claims he bought it for $250,000.00);
xiii. 3 Room Town House (2), Club Corticle, Orlando, USA (he claims he bought this property for $200,000.00);
xiv. 4 Room House, Plot 1496 AI Thannyah, Fourth, Dubai, UAE (he claims he bought this property for $250,000.00);
xv. 4 Bedroom Terrace House, Games Village;
xvi. 6 Bedroom Storey House & Boys Quarters, Amachara MPU, Enugu;
xvii. 4 Bedroom House and Boy Quarters, Federal Housing Estate, Enugu;
xviii. 3000 Square Meters of undeveloped land at Amachara, MPU, Enugu;
xix. 5 Hectares of land, Tutu District, Abuja.
DETAILS OF INVESTMENTS IN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA/(SHARES, DEBENTURES & OTHER SECURITIES IN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA
i. 5, 100,000 – Citi Park Luxury Hotels Ltd (purportedly valued at N350 Million);
ii. 8, 000, 000 – Prime & Power Media Ltd ((purportedly valued at N30 Million);
iii. 300,000,000 – Bety Air Ltd ((purportedly valued at N5 Million);
iv. 40, 000 – Prime & Power Konsult Ltd ((purportedly valued at N42 Million);
v. 50,000 – Power Properties Ltd (purportedly valued at N50 Million);
vi. 70,000 – Spider Construction Ltd (purportedly valued at N35 Million).
PROPERTIES DECLARED BY LAWRENCE IKE EKWEREMADU IN HIS ASSET DECLARATION FORM DATED 1ST JUNE, 2007
i. 4 Bedroom Terrace House, Games Village, Abuja
ii. A Storey Building at Amachara (MPU) (Country home)
iii. A Storey Building & Boy Quarters with Boys Quarters at Federal Housing, Enugu;
iv. Apo Legislative Quarters, Apo, Abuja;
v. 2644.60 Square meters of undeveloped Land at Asokoro, Abuja;
vi. 1000.577 Square meters, Kurubuma Layout, Abuja
vii. 3000 Square meters, Amachara MPU.
DETAILS OF INVESTMENTS IN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA/(SHARES, DEBENTURES & OTHER SECURITIES IN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA
i. 40, 000 – Prime & Power Konsult Ltd (purportedly valued at N40 Million);
ii. 50,000 – Prime Properties Ltd (purportedly valued at N50 Million);
iii. 70,000 – Spider Construction Ltd (purportedly valued at N36 Million).
SCHEDULE B
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.
Compiled by: Opeyemi Babarinde
