THE Economic and Financial Crimes Court has declined to stay the execution of its judgement forfeiting former First Lady Esther Lungu’s 15 double-storey flats to the state. The court has ruled that Esther has not advanced good grounds, let alone special circumstances, to warrant it to exercise its discretion to grant a stay of execution of the judgement. On September 27, 2024, the High Court ordered that Esther’s flats be forfeited to the state, as they were tainted properties. She then challenged the judgement in the Court of Appeal. She also asked the High Court to stay the execution of its judgement forfeiting her 15 double-storey flats to the state. But in a ruling passed by Justices Pixie Yangailo, Ian...