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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC detains Ekiti finance commissioner, Accountant-General over N7b bailout funds

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday  detained Ekiti State Commissioner for Finance Chief Toyin Ojo and the state’s Accountant-General Mrs Yemi Owolabi, over alleged misuse of N7billion bailout funds.

    The arrest of the officials followed security reports on how the state government allegedly misused the bailout funds, especially the first tranche.

    A source said yesterday: “They were picked up on Thursday in Abuja following their refusal to honour previous invitations for interrogation in relation to pending investigation on the misuse of bailout funds by the Ayodele Fayose administration.

    “The affected officials are being interrogated by a team of detectives on how the state government allegedly diverted overN7billion.”

    The Fayose Administration has been under probe for the diversion of the bail out since November 2016 but the state government refused to cooperate with the anti-graft agency and the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration.

    The Senate Committee wrote to some states including Ekiti on November 3, 2016 to account for how they spent their bailout funds.

    But the Ekiti State Government, through its Attorney-General claimed that the Senate could not ask it to account for its share of bailout funds.

    In a letter to the committee, the state said: “It is incontrovertible that the duty of oversight of government’s financial activities by the legislative arm in Nigeria is a constitutional matter and the diligent performance of this duty in a time like this, when our nation is in economic recession, cannot be overemphasized.

    “We therefore appreciate the intentions and aspirations of the National Assembly in the above regard, which, we have no doubt, are aimed at ensuring fiscal discipline, financial integrity, accountability and probity of government and its relevant agencies at all levels.

    “However, we respectfully wish to observe that we are constrained, as a state government bound by the principles of federalism and the rule of law, to accede to your proposal to exercise oversight powers over the disbursement of the bailout granted to Ekiti State by the Federal Government because it is legally and constitutionally outside the powers of the Senate of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “In this regard, we wish to draw your attention to the clear provisions of Sections 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 and 125 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which vests the powers of oversight functions in respect of states’ finances exclusively in the respective state Houses of Assembly.”

  • Court adjourns Patience Jonathan’s $15.591m case for hearing

    Court adjourns Patience Jonathan’s $15.591m case for hearing

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday adjourned hearing of Mrs Patience Jonathan’s suit seeking to unfreeze her accounts till November 2.

    The accounts are said to have $15.591million in them.

    Justice Mohammed Idris had on May 8 held that Mrs Jonathan and other parties must give oral evidence on the money’s ownership.

    According to him, all the defendants’ counter-affidavits contain disputed facts that could not be decided without oral evidence.

    “In my view, the facts are contentious, and oral evidence needs to be led by the parties herein. In the light of the above facts, this case is generally not suitable for an originating summons procedure.

    “In the circumstances, the court hereby orders that the parties herein file pleadings in accordance with the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009 and trial shall then proceed accordingly,” Justice Idris held.

    The EFCC had urged the court not to unfreeze the accounts because the money was suspected to be “proceed of crime”.

    Skye Bank Plc, Jonathan’s former aide Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Avalon Global Property Development Ltd are the other respondents.

    The companies, through their representatives, had pleaded guilty to laundering the money last September 15 when they were arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi of the same court.

    They were charged along with Dudafa, Briggs and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku, for allegedly laundering the money.

    Unlike the companies, Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge.

    In a supporting affidavit to her application, Mrs Jonathan’s aide, Sammie Somiari, said Dudafa helped the former first lady to open the accounts around March 2010.

    The deponent claimed Mrs Jonathan was the sole signatory to the accounts and that she had no relationship with the companies.

  • EFCC confirms arrest of Ekiti finance commissioner, Accountant General

    EFCC confirms arrest of Ekiti finance commissioner, Accountant General

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest of two key officials of the Ekiti State Government for alleged misuse of bailout funds.

    In a statement on Thursday evening, spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, identified the officials as the Commissioner for Finance and the Accountant General of the state.

    Uwujaren said they were picked up by EFCC operatives “following their refusal to honour previous invitations for interrogation in relation to pending investigation on the misuse of bailout funds by the Gov. Ayodele Fayose administration”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the arrest came on the day that Gov. Fayose formally declared his intention to run for the President in 2019 election.

  • Magu: AGF seeks merger of 17 cases on EFCC Chairman’s confirmation

    Magu: AGF seeks merger of 17 cases on EFCC Chairman’s confirmation

    MINISTER of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) has requested the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Justice Adamu Kafarati to consolidate 17 cases pending before the court on the controversy over whether or not the appointment of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) requires Senate’s confirmation.

    A lawyer from the AGF’s office, Musa Abdul, who appeared yesterday in one of such cases, said a memo written to that effect by Malami was now before Justice Kafarati.

    Abdul told Justice Gabriel Kolawole, before who the case by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, came up yesterday, that the memo by the AGF was intended to prevent a situation of where conflicting decisions were given on the cases.

    Abdul said: “My Lord, the AGF has written a memo to the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court requesting that 17 suits in respect of the Chairman of the EFCC be consolidated to avoid the court giving conflicting decisions on suits with the same subject matter.”

    The information by Abdul and the disagreement among two lawyers on who should represent the Senate and the Senate President led to the adjournment of the case to a later date.

    At the inception of proceedings, two lawyers, Peter Abang and S.O Alhassan, announced appearances, with each claiming to represent both the Senate President and the Senate (who are listed as 4th and 5th defendants.

    In a ruling, Justice Kolawole frowned at the conduct of the lawyers. He noted that “the 4th and 5th defendants are having two legal representations, and as such, they cannot be heard.” He urged the concerned parties “to put their heads together”.

    The judge added there was the need to adjourn the case since it was brought to the court’s notice that there are 16 to 17 suits bordering on the same subject matter, which are either assigned or yet to be assigned by the acting Chief Judge.

    He adjourned to November 1, 2017, so that the court will be in a position to know the decision of the acting Chief Judge.

    Okutepa is in the suit querying the powers of the National Assembly to confirm the appointment of the Chairman of either the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the face of the provisions of the constitution.

    Defendants in the suit are the President, the AGF, the National Assembly, the President of the Senate and the Senate.

  • Court refuses to transfer Fani-Kayode’s money laundering charge

    Court refuses to transfer Fani-Kayode’s money laundering charge

    THE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday dismissed an application by a former Minister of Aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode challenging the court’s territorial jurisdiction to adjudicate on his money laundering charge.

    Justice Rilwan Aikawa refused the former minister’s prayer to transfer the case to the court’s Abuja division, where he claimed the alleged offence was committed.

    Ruling yesterday, the judge held that the application had no merit.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Fani-Kayode and former Finance Minister (State) Senator Nenadi Usman for alleged N4.6 billion laundering and fraud.

    They were arraigned along with a former National Chairman of the Association of Local Government in Nigeria (ALGON) Yusuf Danjuma, and a company, Jointrust Dimensions Ltd

    They pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge of money laundering.

    The defendants were first arraigned on June 28 last year before Justice Muslim Hassan, but the judge recused himself on March 16 after Fani-Kayode accused him of likely bias.

    Justice Hassan was head of Legal Department at EFCC before his appointment as a judge and had signed a money laundering charge for which Fani-Kayode was previous tried and acquitted.

    The judge returned the case file to the chief judge, who re-assigned it to Justice Aikawa.

    Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN), argued that the cause of action leading to the charge took place in Abuja.

    Besides, he said his client lived in Abuja and had another criminal case at the Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory.

    But, EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo urged the court to refuse the application as, according to him, the transaction instruments “were recovered in Lagos”.

    Justice Aikawa agreed that part of the alleged illegal transactions took place in Lagos.

    For instance, he said the former Director of Publicity of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation paid N30million to a printer, Olusegun Idowu, whose office is Lagos.

    Justice Aikawa noted that the matter was transferred to him by the chief judge, whose decision he cannot overrule.

    According to him, had the chief judge found merit in the request to transfer the case from Lagos to Abuja, he would have done it after Justice Hassan withdrew from the case rather than transfer it to another judge in Lagos.

    The judge held: “In the case before me, the prosecution avers in its counter affidavit that ‘the sum of N30 million was paid to PW1 (Olusegun Idowu) of Paste Posters Company Ltd, who has his office in Lagos’.

    “This, in my view, shows that all facts leading to the transaction were done in Lagos, and only evidence will prove otherwise.

    “There is no justification to warrant a transfer of this case to Abuja; the interest of justice requires that the trial of this case continues in this court. This application is lacking in merit and is therefore dismissed.”

    The judge admitted in evidence the receipts issued to the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation by Idowu for a cash transaction of N30 million.

    Led in evidence by Oyedepo, Idowu said he issued a receipt to PDP, adding that he raised an invoice in the name of Directorate of Media and Publicity, PDP Campaign Organisation.

    Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Nenadi Esther Usman, Femi Fani-Kayode, Danjuman Yusuf And Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd on or about the 8th day of January, 2015, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to indirectly retain the sum of N1,500, 000,000.00, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: stealing.”

    The defendants were also accused of indirectly retaining N300 million, N400 million and N800 million, all proceeds of corruption, according to EFCC.

    The prosecution said they allegedly committed the offence between January 8 and March 25, 2015, ahead of the general election.

    In another count, the prosecution alleged that Fani-Kayode directly retained N350million, which he ought to have “reasonably known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: stealing”|.

    The commission said Fani-Kayode directly used N170million, among other sums, which he reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of corruption and stealing.

    He was also accused of doing cash transaction of N24million with Olubode Oke without going through a financial institution.

    The offence, EFCC said, violates sections 1(a) and 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2)(b).

    The trial will continue today for cross-examination of the first prosecution witness.

  • $2.1b arms scandal: Fleeing ex-governor loses choice hotel in Singapore to mistress

    $2.1b arms scandal: Fleeing ex-governor loses choice hotel in Singapore to mistress

    A run-away former governor has lost a choice hotel in Singapore to the latter day wife he used to launder his loot.

    The ex-governor is currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly benefitting from the $2.1billion arms scandal.

    Also hanging on his neck is an allegation that he mismanaged N19.8billion public funds while in office.

    He has refused to honour EFCC invitation CR: 3000/EFCC/ABJ/ASO/TM5/VOL.5/596.

    The Nation gathered that the ex-governor used to frequent Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

    But following the recent signing of six agreements by Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he reportedly left Dubai for Singapore.

    A highly placed source familiar with the  ongoing probe of the ex-governor, said the suspect entered into a marriage of convenience with the woman  in Singapore with a view to  protecting the investment of his laundered funds in the  choice hotel.

    He reportedly bought the hotel in the name of the ‘wife’.

    “But the marriage turned into a scam because the ‘wife’ divorced the ex-governor and took possession of the hotel,” the source said yesterday.

    “The suspect has been battling to retrieve the hotel from his ‘wife’. It is however doubtful if he can get it back.”

    It was learnt that the ex-governor is now in a serious dilemma.

    Investigation revealed that over N600million of the $2.1billion arms scandal fund has so far been traced to the ex-governor.

    Another source said EFCC has been on his trail in connection with the alleged mismanagement of N19.8billion state funds between 1999 and 2007.

    “Documents showed that he collected N600million illegally from the $2.1billion arms deal cash through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA),” the source said.

    “Initially, the suspect was based in Dubai but following a close up by detectives, he left the UAE for some countries where he has been on a make-shift life.

    “We are weighing options on how to extradite him in order to bring him to justice. We will explore all legal options.

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The former governor has been giving one excuse or the other for not honouring the invitation of the EFCC.

    “At a point, the suspect said he had a heart-related problem but intelligence report confirmed that he was pretending.”

    Meanwhile, the acting chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu has asked Nigerian youths to take up the gauntlet and become change agents in the fight against corruption in the country.

    Represented by the head of the Benin Zonal office, Mailafia Yakubu, at an event to mark World Peace Day celebration in Benin City, Magu said the biggest challenges facing Nigeria were the “twin evils of corruption and impunity.”

    He charged the youths to imbibe the culture of excellence as future leaders of the country and to shun all forms of criminality.

    “The corrupt and other economic and financial criminals can no longer hide because the Commission is working hard to bring them to justice,” he added.

    Magu said it was disheartening that some youths were involved in advance fee fraud but warned that the prevailing economic challenge was not an excuse to commit crime.

    He said:  “I agree that the country is going through a process but it is not an excuse to commit crime, be legitimate in your dealings so you can be the future leaders that you are.”

  • EFCC, Akwa Ibom clash over Akpabio’s probe for alleged N108.1b fraud

    EFCC, Akwa Ibom clash over Akpabio’s probe for alleged N108.1b fraud

    For seven times, the Akwa Ibom State Government has blocked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating former Governor Godswill Akpabio.

    The Minority Leader of the Senate is under probe for alleged diversion of public funds and corrupt practices reported to the EFCC through several petitions by Leo Ekpenyong, a lawyer.

    He is expected to be quizzed on how N108.1 billion state funds were allegedly to have been diverted.

    Akpabio was also alleged to have in 2013 paid N566, 883, 728.66, N441, 808,081.90 and N392, 631,943.37 as gifts to a new generation bank.

    The investigation is being handled  by the Counter-Terrorism and General Investigation Section of the anti-graft agency.

    Ekpenyong claimed that Akpabio allegedly devised a means of enriching himself at the expense of the state.

    Other petitioners’ names were not disclosed by the anti-graft agency “following intimidation and threats to their lives”.

    The allegations against Akpabio border on award of bogus contracts to cronies who used the proceeds to buy several properties in Lagos and Abuja.

    The allegations include the

    • alleged withdrawal of N18 billion fraudulently from the state’s Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) in tranches of N10 million and above in a surreptitious manner to conceal their dishonest intention;
    • spending  of over N50 billion state funds by the former governor during the last general elections; and alleged
    • withdrawal of N18 billion from the state’s coffers under the guise of special services, reception of very important guests and sundry items.

    The ex-governor is also under probe for allegedly acquiring  some  assets through surrogates, including  a multi-billion naira mansion at Plot 5, Ikogosi Spring Close, off Katsina-Ala Crescent, Maitama-Abuja;  a multi-billion naira mansion at Plot 28 Colorado Close, Maitama, Abuja; 22 Probyn Road, Ikoyi, Lagos;  Plot 23 Olusegun Aina Street, Parkview, Lagos and a multi-billion naira 25-storey building at Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The EFCC said its efforts to interrogate some state officials had been stalled by the government.

    The anti-graft agency said it made seven requests for the release of some officials, but none was honoured.

    A document obtained from the commission reads: “On March 7, 2017, the Commission had written to the Secretary to the State Government asking for the release of Mr. Effiong Efiakedoho, permanent secretary, Ministry of Housing and Special Duties, to appear before the EFCC on March 13. He was summoned specifically in respect of matters related to Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, Raffia City Plaza, A 342 Highway. There was no response.

    “  An 8th May 2017 letter requesting the Accountant General of the State to appear at the Idiagbon House on May 18 was also ignored. The Accountant General was specifically summoned in respect of an aspect of the investigation relating to a company, Sindeng Nigeria Limited.

    “The Commissioner for Works was also invited through a letter of 19th May, 2017 and asked to report to the Commission’s zonal office in Port Harcourt in respect of a road construction contract awarded to Nigturks Civil Technologies Limited. He too failed to honour the invitation.

    “ A May 26, 2017, the request to the Secretary to the State Government to release the Accountant General of the state for interrogation on June 5, over the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, was also ignored.

    “The Commission in two separate letters on June 7, 2017 re-invited the SSG and Efakedoho, PS Housing and Special Duties; and the Accountant General for interrogation June 19. For the second time, the three state functionaries failed to honour the invitation.”

    It was learnt that  the EFCC wrote to the Secretary to the State Government in 2016, requesting for the release of some officials of the Civil Service for questioning.

    The Attorney-General “resorted to filing suits against the commission with a view to stalling investigation”.

    The suits include:

    • A 12th July 2016 concurrent originating summons at Akwa Ibom High Court, Ikot Ekpene, seeking for the interpretation of Sections 124, 125,126, 127,128 of the 1999 Constitution for declarative and injunctive reliefs against EFCC.
    • On 7th February 2017 Akwa Ibom AG filed a Notice of Appeal in Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal against  the ruling of the Akwa Ibom High Court 2 which dismissed preliminary objection in EFCC’s favour.
    • The AG of Akwa Ibom on March 2017 filed a new writ of summons at the Federal High Court, Uyo Division.

    “Apart from the legal sandbags, intimidation is also being employed to frustrate the investigation as even officials of the state who were willing to testify against the former governor are said to have chickened out.

    “Even one of  those who allegedly wrote a petition against the former governor was quoted by a source to have said he was going to withdraw the petition.”

    Responding to a question, an EFCC source said withdrawal of petition would not affect the investigation.

     ”This bus has left the station. There is nothing that anybody can do to stop the investigation at this stage. Whatever challenges we have can only delay the process but the investigation is on course”, he added.

    But the Akwa Ibom State Government, through a June 28, 2017 letter signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice,  Uwemedimo Nwoko, explained why the officials could not be released to the EFCC.

    He said a suit was pending before the Federal High Court , Uyo where he was  challenging the power of the Commission to investigate activities of the state .

    The letter reads: “It has become imperative to remind your Commission (The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)) that you are a party to the above mentioned suit, which is still pending at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Uyo Division.

    “We note with appalling distaste, the sad fact that while the said case is pending in Court, your Commission is still continuing to exhibit disrespect to the Honourable Court by issuing series of letters of invitation to some of the officers of the Akwa Ibom State Government for questioning. Herein attached are some of the said letters for reference.

    “I wish to further remind you that once an action or dispute has been submitted to a court of law, the parties to the suit are bound to show respect to the Court. There should be no usurpation by any person or authority of the functions and powers of the Court to decide the case in accordance with extant laws.

    “Any conduct which is calculated or may directly or indirectly prejudice ore undermine the public confidence in the institution of the judiciary or castrate and render the Court impotent must as of Constitutional necessity be viewed as grossly intolerable and out rightly reprehensible.

    “For what it is worth, let me again remind your Commission that establishing the public image of gaining notoriety for treating the Court of law with contempt is not a virtue particularly for a body that is a creation of statute such as yours.

    “We demand that your Commission forestall indelible fatal injury to your public perception.

    “Finally, we as a government demand very strongly that your office cease forthwith any further actions against the government of Akwa Ibom State and its officials pending the just determination of the case in Suit No. FHC/UY/CS/20/2017.

    “The continued harassment of the Akwa Ibom State government and its officials are distractions, the intolerability of which we state without any equivocation.”

  • Shittu: EFCC not owing me

    LAGOS lawyer and university teacher Wahab Shittu has denied a report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) owed him legal fees.

    He said the report gave the wrong impression about his letter to EFCC’s Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu.

    Shittu said in a statement: “My attention has just been drawn to a publication contained in The Nation of Tuesday, September 19, 2017 titled: ‘Shittu to EFCC: pay me’.

    “I have no problem whatsoever with my client EFCC on payment of fees as payments due to me are promptly paid for services rendered to the commission.

    “At any rate, my commitment to the war against corruption is not informed principally by pecuniary benefits but mainly for service to country.

    “Consequently, the impression created by the story is erroneous and ought to be promptly corrected for records.”

    Shittu said the letter on which the story was based was to show that a significant suit seeking Magu’s removal had been voluntarily withdrawn by the plaintiffs to support his commitment to the anti-corruption war.

    “Unfortunately, the objective was not established by the erroneous impression created in the referred story.

    “It is perhaps no longer news that I am firmly committed to the retention of Mallam Ibrahim Magu as the EFCC helmsman.

    “This commitment is not for pecuniary reasons but for reasons of his track records of performance and passion against corruption in our country. This has not and cannot change since the status quo remains,” Shittu said.

  • EFCC lauds CJN’s move to prioritise corruption cases in courts

    EFCC lauds CJN’s move to prioritise corruption cases in courts

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commended recent move by the judiciary to prioritise corruption and financial crime cases brought before it.

    The commendation is in a statement by Spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Uwujaren quoted the commission’s Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, as saying the development was right step in the right direction.

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, announced the initiative at the opening of the 2017/2018 Legal Year in Abuja on Monday.

    Onnoghen directed  all heads of courts to compile and farward comprehensive lists of corruption and financial crime cases before them to National Judicial Council (NJC).

    He said where such cases came on appeal to the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, special dates should be fixed for them every week.

    “In order for the NJC to monitor and effectively enforce the foregoing policy, anti-corruption cases trial monitoring committee will be constituted at the next council meeting.

    “This committee would be saddled with, among other things, the responsibility of ensuring that both trial and appellate courts handling corruption and financial crime cases key into and abide by our renewed efforts at ridding our country of the cankerworm,” the CJN had said.

    He also directed heads of courts to clamp down on both prosecution and defence counsel who indulged in delay tactics to stall criminal trials.

    The EFCC boss lauded the initiative, which he said would curtail “unnecessary delays in prosecution of corruption cases.”

    Uwujaren stated that Magu had expressed optimism that the innovation would strengthen the fight against economic and financial crimes in the country.

    He quoted the EFCC boss as saying “the spate of frivolous and unwarranted adjournments at instances of defence  for the purpose of stalling proceedings is over.

    “With special courts, cases stand great chance of being disposed of quickly.

    “We had clamoured for the creation of special or dedicated courts for over six years.

    “So, the action of the CJN is commendable.

  • Judge’s absence stalls EFCC bid to seize Patience Jonathan’s funds

    Judge’s absence stalls EFCC bid to seize Patience Jonathan’s funds

    The absence of Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court, Lagos, stalled proceedings on the application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking permanent forfeiture of $5.7million belonging to wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.

    No judge of the court’s Lagos Division sat on Wednesday.

    They were said to be in Abuja for a valedictory session for former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, held on Tuesday.

    The court on May 22 suspended proceedings in the case.

    Justice Olatoregun stayed proceedings pending the outcome of an appeal challenging the money’s temporary forfeiture.

    The EFCC is praying the court to order that the cash be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The judge, on April 26, made an interim order forfeiting the money based on the EFCC’s application.

    Justice Olatoregun had also ordered the temporary forfeiture of N2,421,953,522..78 found in an Ecobank Nigeria Limited account numbered 2022000760 in the name of La Wari Furniture and Baths Limited.

    The Commission said the money also belongs to Mrs. Jonathan.

    Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), said he filed an application for stay of proceedings pending the appeal’s determination.

    Counsel for La Wari Furniture and Baths, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), added that once an appeal had been entered, the lower court ought to stay proceedings.

    Citing several judicial authorities and Court of Appeal Rules, Ozekhome said it would amount to disrespect for court hierarchy for the judge to proceed with the case where there was a pending appeal.

    Justice Olatoregun held that it would be in the interest of justice to await the Court of Appeal’s decision.

    “I have seen the hearing notice issued by the Court of Appeal. I believe it will be in the interest of justice for parties to vent their views at the Court of Appeal.

    “I will, therefore, adjourn this case until 20th of September,” she added.

    Mrs. Jonathan, in the notice of appeal, is praying the court to hold that the law cited by the EFCC in its ex-parte application for the temporary forfeiture was inapplicable.

    A new date of November 23 has been fixed for hearing of the case.