Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola of the Federal High Court in Lagos has struck out a suit by a group Union of Niger Delta Youth Organisation for Equity, Justice and Good Governance, against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
She struck it after the group applied to discontinue the case on Tuesday.
The judge awarded N25,000 cost against the plaintiff.
SERAP’s lawyer Timothy Adewale described the case as “a complete waste of our time”.
The group claimed it filed the suit on behalf of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Patience.
The plaintiffs accused SERAP of using online, print and electronic media to publish unfounded and malicious allegations that she stole $15 million and ought to be prosecuted.
SERAP had argued that the group was not registered and lacked the right to file the suit.
The group prayed the court for “an order of interim injunction restraining SERAP from taking any further steps in vilification, condemnation and conviction of the former First Lady Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan, in all public media and in the use of the judicial process for that purpose by the extremely publicised pursuit of any application for the coercion of the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute her for owning legitimate private property”.
It said the campaign by SERAP was in breach of Mrs. Jonathan’s right as innocent until proved guilty under Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).
“The action by SERAP seeks to coerce the attorney-general of the federation to embark on a breach of the same right when the attorney general is in a better position than SERAP and the court to know whether or not there is any evidence of wrongdoing by Mrs. Jonathan.”
Five companies, last September 15, pleaded guilty to laundering $15,591,700 (about N5 billion).
They are: Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Friday Davis), Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Agbor Baro), Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Dioghowori Frederick) and Avalon Global Property Development Ltd (represented by Taiwo Ebenezer).
Following their pleas, Rotimi prayed the court to order the forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government.
Mrs. Jonathan claimed the funds in the companies’ accounts belonged to her.
She also filed a suit seeking that the accounts be de-freezed.