An application by the former governor of Edo state, Lucky Igbinedion, to have his property seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) released to him was on Friday dismissed by Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos for lack of merit.
In the meantime, the ex- governor speaking through his lawyer, Ricky Tarfa (SAN), after the court’s verdict, vowed to appeal the ruling.
The judge, while delivering his ruling, noted that Section 13 of the Federal High Court Acts granted the anti-graft agency the power to temporarily grant injunction to freeze or attach assets suspected to have been acquired by proceeds of fraud.
According to the judge, the anti-graft agency acted within its power as sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act empower the commission to temporarily attach properties suspected to have been acquired through crime.
The judge also held that under section 19 of the Federal High Court Act and Section 220 of the constitution, the court has the jurisdiction under the act to make orders attaching the property, since the territorial jurisdiction of the federal High Court is nationwide and that there is only one Federal High Court in Nigeria.
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