On July 20, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba granted the anti-graft agency an order of interim forfeiture of Mr. Fayose’s properties for a 45-day period that expired on September 4.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday rejected Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose’s request to release some of his properties seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On July 20, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba granted the anti-graft agency an order of interim forfeiture of Mr. Fayose’s properties for a 45-day period that expired on September 4.
When the court order expired, Mr. Fayose argued that his properties in Lagos and Abuja should be released. The EFCC, however, said it received a court order on November 3 from a different judge, Justice Okon Abang, extending the original 45-day period granted by Justice Dimgba.
Justice Dimgba therefore granted the EFCC permission to continue to hold Mr. Fayose’s properties on the basis of this new order.
“In light of the foregoing, I hold that the prayer on the motion is hinged on the court’s order of July 20 and affirmed on August 2, being a consequence of the order which lapsed on September 4,” the judge explained.
“It is my further holding that the continued sealing and occupation of the said seized properties are hinged on the order of November 3 given by Justice Abang,” Justice Dimgba said, adding that he was “unable to comment” on his colleague’s order.
Justice Dimgba, however, said Mr. Fayose could file a new application pleading that the court dismisses the November 3 order.
According to The Nation, the judge also advised Mr. Fayose to “investigate the circumstances surrounding the ex parte application with which the EFCC obtained the November 3 order to verify if the anti-graft agency made full disclosure of the history of orders on the said property to Justice Abang.”
