The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refused to release of the six houses earlier seized by the anti-graft agency through a previous court order from Governor, Ayodele Fayose.

The EFCC said the houses located in Lagos and Abuja were seized through a court order earlier obtained on July 20, 2016.

The commission stated, “An order was made by this court on the 20th of July, 2016 for interim attachment/forfeiture of the properties contained in this application for a period of 45 days.

“The order has since lapsed and the respondent, upon further investigation, discovered the names through which the properties were acquired and had to proceed against those names.

“The respondent (EFCC) re-attached the properties and reapplied to this honourable court for a fresh order before Honourable Justice Okon Abang, which application was considered and granted.

“An order of interim or forfeiture is meant to preserve the res (subject matter) pending investigation or conclusion of trial.

“It is thus of interest to state that in view of the respondent’s exhibit EFCC1 (a copy of the order by Justice Abang), the order now being sought by the applicant has already been overtaking by time and event.

“The applicant’s (Fayose’s) application is thus, a pure waste of time and an academic exercise, which is based on nothing.”

The hearing of Fayose’s application was stalled on Monday as the governor’s lead lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), was absent from court.