Patience Jonathan To Know Fate Of Seized $153m On Monday February 11th

Patience Jonathan To Know Fate Of Seized $153m On Monday February 11th

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos and presided by Justice Mojisola
Olatoregun will on Monday, 11th February, 2019, deliver judgement in a
motion for final forfieture of $153m (One Hundred and Fifty Three
Million Dollars) linked to former first lady Dame Patience Jonathan by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The $153m (One Hundred and Fifty Three Million Dollars) is just one
of the several forfeiture orders against the former first lady. The
EFCC, through its Prosecution Lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, had in June 2017,
approached the court and sought for an exparte order for interim
forfeiture under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, Section 34 of
EFCC Act and other related offences Act.

The Judge granted the application and directed the EFCC to advertise
the order on two National Dailies so that any interested parties can
proof the legitimacy of the funds. It was consequent on the publication
that counsels to the former first lady, Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, and Chief
Mike Ozekhome, SAN, filed and argued that there was no complainant of
loss of money to EFCC and that Patience Jonathan is not a public office
holder during the four year tenure of her husband, they therefore urged
the court to set aside the interim order of forfieture earlier made.

However Oyedepo in his response, urged the court to order final
forfieture of $1153m to the federal government of Nigeria as he
described the money as a proceed of an unlawful activities lundered
under some fictitious companies. He further agued that the person
claiming ownership of these illicit funds must show to the court her
interest, her name was not among the director of the companies used to
launder these funds neither her name appeared in the mandate card of the
company’s accounts.

He then prayed the court to order the final forfieture of the funds
The Judge, after listening to arguments from bith sides had adjourned
the case to Monday, February 11, 2019 for judgement.