NWAIGWE
V.
F.R.N.

MUKHTAR JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This appeal is against the decision of the Federal High Court, Lagos (the court below) delivered by Tijani Abubakar J on 26 October 2007 refusing to discharge an earlier ex parte order made by the same court on 25 May 2007 for the forfeiture of the appellants’ properties in favour of the respondent. The brief antecedents that led to this appeal were that on 25 May 2007 the court below granted an ex parte order for the forfeiture of the appellants’ various properties, as listed on the respondent’s ex parte originating summons dated 22 May 2007 (pages 24-27 and 45 - 48 of the record) to the Federal Government pending conclusion of investigations on the activities of the appellants, and that all rents and fees on the properties or revenue generated therefrom be paid into an interest yielding account operated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Soon after making the order, the appellants filed, on 31 May 2007, a motio…