Court Unfreezes 16 Bank Accounts Belonging To Patience Jonathan
Justice Binta Nyako withdrew the order on Tuesday on
the grounds that the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) which secured the freezing order,
failed to conduct a proper investigation into the case.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has reversed its order made
on May 30, to freeze 16 accounts belonging to the wife of
former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.
Justice Binta Nyako withdrew the order on Tuesday on the
grounds that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) which secured the freezing order, failed to conduct a
proper investigation into the case.
The court’s decision followed a move by the counsel to Mrs
Jonathan, Mr Mike Ozekhome who asked the court to set aside
an ex-parte order filed by the anti-graft agency.
Mr Ozekhome who confirmed this to Channels Television said
that the court had ordered the EFCC to conduct its
investigation within 90 days of freezing the accounts but that
the commission failed to carry out the said investigation within
the given period.
The accounts containing over $5 million had been frozen as the
money was considered “proceeds of crime” by the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency said that the move to request the
freezing of the accounts became necessary after it received
intelligence report, which showed that the accounts ought to be
investigated.
The ex-parte application to freeze the accounts at the
time was supported by an originating summons sworn to by one
Abdulahi Tukur, an operative of EFCC, and filed before the
court by the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo.
Prior to the court’s decision on Tuesday, there had been
attempts by the former President’s wife to unfreeze the
accounts and prevent the forfeiture of the monies therein to
the federal government.
On October 5, Mrs Jonathan filed a N2 billion rights
enforcement suit against the commission.
She accused the EFCC of violating her fundamental rights and
demanded the said sum as compensation for general damages.
In the suit, she said that the EFCC had incessantly harassed
her through negative media publications.
Mrs Jonathan further stated that such action degrading her
person, as it resulted in her being branded as corrupt, without
any invitation, trial or conviction by a court.
the grounds that the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) which secured the freezing order,
failed to conduct a proper investigation into the case.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has reversed its order made
on May 30, to freeze 16 accounts belonging to the wife of
former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.
Justice Binta Nyako withdrew the order on Tuesday on the
grounds that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) which secured the freezing order, failed to conduct a
proper investigation into the case.
The court’s decision followed a move by the counsel to Mrs
Jonathan, Mr Mike Ozekhome who asked the court to set aside
an ex-parte order filed by the anti-graft agency.
Mr Ozekhome who confirmed this to Channels Television said
that the court had ordered the EFCC to conduct its
investigation within 90 days of freezing the accounts but that
the commission failed to carry out the said investigation within
the given period.
The accounts containing over $5 million had been frozen as the
money was considered “proceeds of crime” by the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency said that the move to request the
freezing of the accounts became necessary after it received
intelligence report, which showed that the accounts ought to be
investigated.
The ex-parte application to freeze the accounts at the
time was supported by an originating summons sworn to by one
Abdulahi Tukur, an operative of EFCC, and filed before the
court by the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo.
Prior to the court’s decision on Tuesday, there had been
attempts by the former President’s wife to unfreeze the
accounts and prevent the forfeiture of the monies therein to
the federal government.
On October 5, Mrs Jonathan filed a N2 billion rights
enforcement suit against the commission.
She accused the EFCC of violating her fundamental rights and
demanded the said sum as compensation for general damages.
In the suit, she said that the EFCC had incessantly harassed
her through negative media publications.
Mrs Jonathan further stated that such action degrading her
person, as it resulted in her being branded as corrupt, without
any invitation, trial or conviction by a court.
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