Federal Govt. files charges against DSP Ekweremadu, Sen. Akpan over assets declaration

The Federal Government has filed charges against the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, Bassey Akpan.

The Senators are being charged for alleged offences bordering on their refusal and negligence to declare their assets to the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the recovery of public property.

Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja where two separate sets of charges were filed against the Senators on Wednesday, ordered that the charges and other accompanying papers be served on the two Senators through the Clerk of the National Assembly.

The judge, after granting the orders for service through substituted means, fixed October 22, 2018, for hearing in respect of Senator Ekweremadu’s case and November 19, 2018, for Senator Akpan’s case.

The Okoi Obono-Obla-led Special Presidential Investigation Panel had, on behalf of the Federal Government, filed the two separate criminal suits containing two counts each against the Senators.

The panel had also in different applications applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja for the interim forfeiture of the properties which both Senators allegedly failed to declare as their assets.

Senator Ekweremadu’s properties targeted for interim forfeiture includes nine in Abuja; two in London, the United Kingdom; eight in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; and three in Florida, the United States of America.

Also targeted for interim forfeiture in a separate ex parte application are four houses allegedly linked to Senator Apkan, located at Katampe extension and Gwarimpa in Abuja.

The panel had sought the orders of interim forfeiture of the properties linked to the Senators pending the conclusion of investigations