Esther loses appeal against forfeiture of 15 flats

By GRACE CHAILE 

FORMER First Lady Esther Lungu’s appeal against the Economic and Financial Crimes Court’s (EFCC) judgement ordering the Forfeiture of her 15 double storey flats has been denied.

 The EFCC ruled that her State Lodge flats in Lusaka, valued at K66 million, be forfeited to the State.

Ms Lungu was seeking leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the EFCC erred in law and fact in holding that the properties were tainted and in forfeiting them to the State. 

She also claimed that the court failed to consider her husband, former President Edgar Lungu’s, financial means in constructing the properties.

However, the EFCC, comprising Judges Pixie Yangailo, Ian Mabbolobbolo, and Vincent Siloka, refused to grant Ms Lungu leave to appeal, stating that the appeal had no prospects of success.

They cited that matters related to non-conviction-based forfeiture are novel in Zambia but did not fall under public importance as they affect private rights.

“Having assessed the grounds of appeal, it is our considered view that the said grounds of appeal do not reveal any realistic prospects of succeeding, in view of the evidence that was adduced before this court, the authorities that were cited therein, which addressed the issues raised in opposing the application for non-conviction based forfeiture and the overall reasoning in the impunged judgement. Further, the interested party, has not advanced any other compelling reasons for leave to be granted,” read the ruling.