• About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
  • Login
  • Cover
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Security
  • Entertainment
  • World
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Interview
No Result
View All Result
Newsdesk Africa
Advertisement
  • Cover
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Security
  • Entertainment
  • World
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Interview
No Result
View All Result
Newsdesk Africa
No Result
View All Result
Home Backpage

Ekweremadu’s 40: Feasible, offensive, still legal

Our Reporters by Our Reporters
November 6, 2022
in Backpage
0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

by Chido Nwakanma

Chido Nwakanma examines an ex-parte motion the EFCC brought before an Abuja High Court in a bid to seize alleged properties of Sen. Ekweremadu

The EFCC, during the first week of November 2022, played its old game to excite the passions of Nigerians. EFCC got a court sentence authorising the temporary seizure of 40 properties it claims to belong to former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. There was no hearing and defence by Ekweremadu marooned in a London jail on court orders.

EFCC released photos of buildings allegedly belonging to Ekweremadu. Excitable Nigerians have gone gung-ho over the matter. Methinks we should interrogate the issue more deeply. There are many angles to it worth examining.

Folks in incredulity ask how the Senator could have acquired such properties if not by corruption. They forget that Ekweremadu has been a “government pikin” for all of the 23 years of the Fourth Republic. He was a local government chairman. Then served as Chief of Staff to Governor Chimaraoke Nnamani of Enugu State. He has been in the Senate since 2003.

Our National Assembly, by all reckonings, pays one of the highest remunerations in the world. It is thus FEASIBLE for Ekweremadu to acquire 40 or 50 properties from legitimate income all those years. Indeed, most average middle-class Nigerians have at least two properties from their income: a house where they work and live and a house in their natal origins. Those in well-heeled jobs in banking, oil and gas and international agencies own properties in Lagos, Port Harcourt, or Abuja and the former regional capitals of Ibadan, Kaduna, Enugu, and Benin.

However, forty properties for one man are offensive. His position as a public officer makes it more objectionable. Every man has the right to decide how he spends his money or what he acquires. Position or standing in society tempers that right. Ekweremadu as a public officer, ought to pay attention to how people will perceive such loud material assets.

The howls are about greed. Note that no one would know if he had invested in less visible items. The acquisitiveness focused on properties in Enugu, Abuja, USA, and other foreign locations sends an offensive signal. Significantly, the EFCC did not mention among these properties items such as schools, hospitals, laboratories or similar properties dedicated to serving the public interest. Zilch.

Despite the preceding, the EFCC has failed to prove illegality. The Nigerian State has deployed underhand tactics. EFCC got a court declaration by sleight of hand after previous failures in the normal court process to indict Ekweremadu. Ekweremadu’s properties remain LEGAL until EFCC proves otherwise in court.

As explained in a reference document, “an ‘ex-parte’ court proceeding is brought by an applicant in the absence of the respondent”. Courts grant exparte injunction against a defendant who the prosecutor has not served. “This type of injunction is most used in situations of great urgency and generally only lasts for a restricted period. The exparte application must be reserved for very special circumstances”.

Pray, what is the situation of great urgency on this matter that has existed since 2016? Has the Nigerian State sold Ekweremadu down the tube against his appeal in England on 7 November? What is the urgency, and what are the exceptional circumstances of this case?

The Nigerian judiciary again subjects itself to negative scrutiny after it failed in simple electoral mathematics and made number four the first in a state in the South-East. It has now performed a judicial ambush and aided state capture.
The State ought to lead in morality and legality. The Nigerian State has performed worse than citizens and public officers with 40 properties worldwide. The Nigerian State should conduct its affairs in ways that promote belief and confidence.

EFCC has proven not to be different, as its boss would want us to believe. It has done the regular media trial, sending out to media houses photos of the alleged properties to excite mass hysteria. We ask the EFCC to diligently investigate and win its cases in court rather than in the media.

In all, the Nigerian State short-changes the citizen. Two wrongs never made one right. Indeed, EFCC insults us all through its failure at due diligence and the attempt to hoodwink us with trial outside the court.

Previous Post

Passengers trapped as plane crashes into lake Victoria

Next Post

My journey through the den of Fulani marauders/ kidnappers

Next Post

My journey through the den of Fulani marauders/ kidnappers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

https://youtu.be/FHyJ1Wr0FAk?si=0WVYI_2OR4OrIrQ4
https://youtu.be/gbE3azm_Io0?si=GdE3Mqelo1ujTNla
How PDP govs, BoT resolved impasse
Cover

How PDP govs, BoT resolved impasse

by Our Reporters
July 1, 2025
0

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appeared to ease on Monday after leaders at the party’s 100th National...

Read moreDetails
I will be on the ballot in 2027, says Obi

I will be on the ballot in 2027, says Obi

June 30, 2025
SDP warns against dealing with suspended Chairman, Auditor, Youth Leader

SDP warns against dealing with suspended Chairman, Auditor, Youth Leader

June 30, 2025
Suspected herdsmen, military exchange gunfire near Benue IDP camp 

Suspected herdsmen, military exchange gunfire near Benue IDP camp 

June 30, 2025
Court orders 54 banks to return N9.3bn stolen from customers accounts

Go to the first-class hospital you commissioned in Kogi, EFCC prosecutor tell Yahaya Bello 

June 30, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Copyright© 2022-2025 Newsdesk Africa Published by Glossy Affairs Ltd. Tel: +2348152359152. Email: info@newsdeskafrica.com.ng editor@newsdeskafrica.com.ng

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Homepage

Copyright© 2022-2025 Newsdesk Africa Published by Glossy Affairs Ltd. Tel: +2348152359152. Email: info@newsdeskafrica.com.ng editor@newsdeskafrica.com.ng