The Federal Government has formerly filed charges against the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, Bassey Akpan upon resumption of plenary.
DSP Ekweremadu as well as Senator Bassey Akpan are being slammed with asset declaration charges.
The senators are alleged to have committed offences amounting to a refusal and negligence on the part of both public officials 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 as well as other accompanying papers be served on both senators thorough a substituted means.
as well as other accompanying papers be served on both Senators through the Clerk of the National Assembly.
The judge, after granting the orders for service through the Clerk of the National Assembly, fixed separate dates for both cases; October 22, 2018, for hearing in respect of Senator Ekweremadu’s case and November 19, 2018, for Senator Akpan’s case.
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The Special Presidential Investigation Panel led by Okoi Obono-Obla had, on behalf of the Federal Government, filed both criminal suits containing two counts each against the serving 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.
The committee also asked for the interim forfeiture of four houses allegedly linked to Senator Apkan, located at Katampe extension and Gwarimpa in Abuja.