Ekweremadu, colleague get substituted service over asset charges

The Federal High Court, Abuja has given nod to the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property to serve processes on the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his colleague, Albert Bassey, through substituted means in respect of a two-count charge for allegedly refusing to declare their assets.

The orders followed complaints by the Federal Government that the duo were evading service.

Its counsel, Celsus Ukpong, in two separate exparte motions, prayed Justices Binta Nyako and John Tsoho to permit the exercise through the Clerk of the National Assembly.

He informed the court that the accused had allegedly thwarted all efforts to serve them to formally kick-start their trial.

After entertaining the argument on the alleged evasion of service, the judges granted government’s prayer that both of them should be served through the Clerk of the National Assembly.