How Arthur Eze legally recovered stolen properties from staff –Aide

Principal Consultant on Media to Prince Arthur Eze, Chief Oliver Okpala, has dismissed what he described as a “malicious publication” trending on the social media, where it was alleged that the eminent businessman forcefully ejected his brother’s sons from their residence without recourse to the rule of law.

Okpala recalled that those he said were promoting the falsehood had alleged that Prince Eze forcefully took possession of the said house with thugs without following the rule of law, while there was a pending appeal before the court, as well as a stay of execution, which the owners had filed.

He said: “We make bold to say that a court of competent jurisdiction had given an order of final forfeiture and that there is no court order stopping Prince Arthur Eze from taking possession of the said property. If they filed a stay of execution, they have not served Prince Arthur Eze and there has not been any judgement to that effect.

“The Court of Appeal has not overturned the judgement of the court, which ordered a final forfeiture of the properties in question. So that judgement is still subsisting, therefore Prince Arthur Eze went to enforce it in line with the rule of law.”

Chief Okpala said Prince Eze only went to take possession of the properties in line with the judgement that they have been forfeited to him, adding: “So, it is preposterous and pretentious for them to be peddling falsehood that he was acting outside the law. This is an attempt to cast Prince Eze in bad light and we would not allow that. The truth must be told. The record must be set straight and the truth of the matter is that the accused persons were his staff who pilfered his hard earned money, which they used to acquire these massive properties.

“Prince Arthur Eze, upon uncovering the heist, reported the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which investigated that matter and charged it to court.

The court of competent jurisdiction gave a temporary forfeiture order and asked the accused to show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be given which they failed to do.

“They did not even approach the court to show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be given. Thus the properties located in Enugu, Awka and Abuja was forfeited to Prince Eze.

He had already taken possession of the properties in Enugu. This one over which they are now raising dust, was also in compliance with the court judgement.”