ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR: Patience Jonathan in the news again; wants court to unfreeze her accounts
Former First lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan Monday asked a Federal High Court, Lagos, to unfreeze her accounts of $8.4m and N7.4 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on April 20, through an exparte application, obtained an interim forfeiture of the said monies.
After taking argument from the Jonathan’s lawyer, the matter was adjourned to November 13 to take video evidence in a suit.
In the suit, the EFCC joined as respondents: Patience Jonathan, Globus Integrated Services Limited, Finchley Top Homes Limited., Am-Pm Global Network Limited, Pagmat Oil and Gas Limited and Magel Resort Limited and Esther Oba.
When the case was called on Monday, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo annoumced appearance for the EFCC.
On the other side, MrIfedayoAdedipe appeared for the first respondent, MrGboyegaOyewole appeared for the second respondent, Chief Mike Ozekhome appeared for the third to sixth respondents, and MrIgeAsemudara appeared for the seventh respondent.
After respondent counsel had moved their various motions for regularisation of processes, the court asked the applicant to move his motion for final forfeiture.
Moving his application, Oyedepo informed the court that the application for final forfeiture was dated May 8, seeking an order of the court for a final forfeiture of the sums of money listed in the application.
He supported his application with an affidavit deposed to on May 20, by Mr Orji Chukwuma, an operative with the commission, and told the court that he relies on the written averments, as well as exhibits EFCC 12 and 13, in support of his application.
Oyedepo told the court that he also relies on the written address attached to the application, and urged the court to grant the application for final forfeiture.
Meanwhile, arguing his processes in opposition dated July 24, Mr Adedipe, counsel to first respondent, urged the court to refuse the application for final forfeiture on the grounds that sufficient facts had not been placed before the court to warrant a final order.
