The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday at the Court of Appeal, Enugu secured a landmark judgement when the appellate court dismissed the appeal by former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike challenging the interim forfeiture of the N50 million in his Zenith Bank account.

The judgment read by Justice Helen Ogunwumiju upheld the decision of the lower court to order the temporary forfeiture of the money.

Umezulike had appealed the order givenin March 2017by Justice A. M. Liman of the Federal High Court, Enugu following EFCC’s application seeking the freezing, seizure and forfeiture of properties linked to him. The Commission claimed there was reasonable suspicion that the money was part of alleged donation which the former Chief Judge received from a litigant in his court.

The former Chief Judge was arraigned on July 14, 2017 on a one-count charge of use of office to confer corrupt and unfair advantage upon himself contrary to Section 19 of the Independent and Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Act (Laws of the Federation) 2000.