Court to hear Patience Jonathan’s suit March 6
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday adjourned till March 6 for further hearing, a suit filed by an ex-First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, to challenge the frozen of the $15.5 million she claimed belong to her.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had seized the $15.5 million from the account of four companies belonging to the former aide of Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa.
Mrs. Jonathan, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, is seeking an order to de-freeze the accounts where the money is domiciled, so that she can have access to it.
Respondents in the suit are; the EFCC, Skye Bank, Dudafa and the four companies.
The companies are: Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Globus Integrated Service Ltd.
At Monday’s proceedings, lawyer representing the companies, Jeff Kadiri, who stood in for Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), informed the court that he has just been briefed and will need time to file the necessary process.
Patience Jonathan’s lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), had while expressing his readiness to proceed with the matter informed the court that he had served his processes on all parties in the matter.
But he did not opposed Kadiri’s request for adjournment saying it is in order.
In the absence of opposition by lawyers to the other respondents, the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned the matter for further hearing to March 6.
It would be recalled that the four companies which the EFCC claimed was used by Dudafa to launder the said money, had pleaded guilty to the offence of money laundering before Justice Babs Kuewumi of the same court.