Organ Harvesting: EFCC Behind My Travails – Ekweremadu Cries Out

Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is behind his alleged organ harvesting travails in the United Kingdom.

The Senator who has been in custody in London over an alleged organ harvest, told the Federal High Court Abuja, that the anti-graft agency wrote a letter to the London Court that made the foreign court refuse to admit him to bail.

Ekweremadu’s allegations were contained in an application he filed before the Federal High Court, seeking an order to set aside interim order granted in favour of the Federal Government for the forfeiture of his 40 properties in the country and outside the country.

In the application brought by his counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adegboyega Awomolo, Ekweremadu claimed that the forfeiture order was granted by the Federal Government in error because the EFCC suppressed information and facts in respect of the properties.

Specifically, the detained Senator alleged that the EFCC fraudulently obtained the forfeiture order for the government by concealing information that the investigation on the 40 properties started as far back as 2008.

He further alleged that the EFCC was fully aware that he was in detention in London when the application for forfeiture of the properties was filed and argued.

He said that the anti-graft agency deliberately refused to disclose to the court that he was in London detention and would not be able to counter the forfeiture request.

The Senator, therefore, prayed the court to set aside the forfeiture order and stay proceedings in the matter until he resolves his ordeal before the London Court.

However, counsel to the EFCC, Mr Silvanus Tahir SAN denied that his client was behind Ekweremadu’s ordeal.

He however admitted that the EFCC wrote the London Court based on a special request adding that it was a normal routine for anti-graft agencies to exchange information that would be of help to one another.

Tahir did not oppose the request for a stay of proceedings till Ekweremadu fully resolve his matter before the London Court but opposed the request for setting aside the forfeiture order.

The trial judge, Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo subsequently fixed January 25 next year for ruling in the matter.