Court Refuses To Make Permanent Forfeiture Order On Patience Jonathan’s $8.4m, N7.4b
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos has
dismissed an application from the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission EFCC to order the final forfeiture of $8.4 million and N7.4
billion linked to former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
The judge had in April 2018 ordered the temporary forfeiture of the
funds which EFCC said were suspected to be proceeds of crime. Mrs
Jonathan, Globus Integrated Services Ltd, Finchley Top Homes Ltd, Am-Pm
Global Network Ltd, Pagmat Oil and Gas Ltd and Magel Resort Ltd and
Esther Oba, all companies linked to her, had indicated at the time that
the sum of money been investigated were donations she received from good
citizens who loved her and wanted to bless her.
Among the temporarily forfeited sums are N1.085billion and
N226.3million found in Finchley’s Ecobank account and N39.4million found
in its Diamond Bank account, as well as N55.9million found in Pagmat
Oil and Gas’ Diamond Bank account, among others.
Justice Olatoregun today said all the parties in the suit must give oral evidence to justify the money’s source and ownership.
“I have stated here that the right of parties in this suit cannot be
determined by affidavit evidence. Oral testimonies are to be called with
cross extermination. I hereby order parties to call upon their
witnesses so that the right of parties can be determined one way or the
other,” the judge ruled.
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