Whistle-blower allegedly exposes 13 properties reportedly owned by Ekweremadu
- The federal government allegedly wrote a letter to the UK and US
- The letter is reportedly about properties owned by Senator Ike Ekweremadu
The federal government has reportedly written to the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America over properties allegedly owned by deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, Sahara Reporters reports.
According to the online news medium, the letter was sent by Tunde Fowler who is the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service. It was reported that Fowler “is relying on the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEoI), a multi-jurisdictional instrument for exposing hidden assets and incomes, to which Nigeria is a signatory.”
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It was alleged that a whistle-blower provided information about the properties hidden abroad.
In UAE, the deputy Senate president allegedly owns eight properties amongst them are “Apartments EGG1/1/114 and EGG1/1/115 Emirates Garden, Apartment DFB/12/B 1204 Park Towers, Flat 3604, MAG214 and Villa No.148, MAEEN1 The Lakes, Emirate Hills. The others are Boulevard 3901, two flats of Burij Side Boulevard, The Signature; and Room 1903, Hotel Downtown.”
According to Sahara Reporters, one of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s special assistants wrote to the Serious Fraud Office in the UK and is relying on the recently passed Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) in the country.
The new order “prescribes forfeiture of assets valued at 50,000 pounds and above for which the owner cannot adequately explain the source of income with which it was acquired.”
Fowler in the letter said “The objective of this letter is to alert you of this development in view of the Voluntary Declaration of Assets and Income Scheme introduced by the Federal Government.”
According to Sahara Reporters, in the UK, “Ekweremadu owns Flat 4 Varsity Court, Homer Street, WIH 4NW London and 52 Ayleston Avenue, NW6, London.
“In the United States, the Deputy Senate President has a three-property portfolio comprising 4507 Stella Street, Bellavida Estate, Kissimmee, Florida; 2747 Club Cortile Circle, Kissimmee, Florida and 2763 Club Cortile Circle, Kissimmee, Florida.”
Meanwhile, Ekweremadu stated that it is not unlikely for the military to take over, as he noted that the nation’s democracy is receding, Vanguard reports.
Ekweremadu made his comment in reaction to a motion sponsored by Ahmed Ogembe, the senator representing Kogi Central.
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Legit.ng gathers that Ogembe alleged that the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, organized thugs to disrupt an empowerment programme for his constituents, which he had organized.
The deputy Senate president warned that Nigeria’s democracy must not be turned into a joke, as he cited various instances where federal lawmakers have been harassed.
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Source: Legit.ng
