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Tag: EFCC

  • Court convicts INEC staff for accepting N70m bribe from Diezani

    Court convicts INEC staff for accepting N70m bribe from Diezani

    …Another employee abandons plea bargain

     

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Wednesday convicted an employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for accepting over N70million bribe from former Petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke to rig the 2015 general election results.

    Justice Mohammed Idris convicted Tijani Inda Bashir for receiving cash payment of N70,050,000.00 after he pleaded guilty to an amended charge.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned him, Christian Nwosu and Yisa Adedoyin.

    They allegedly collected N264.88million bribe on March 27, 2015 from the former minister ahead of the election.

    Nwosu had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted for the offence of receiving N30million bribe.

    But, Justice Idris rejected his plea bargain agreement with the EFCC involving payment of N500,000 fine and forfeiture of properties acquired with the money.

    The judge said Nwosu should either accept a heavier sentence, which includes N10million fine, or change his plea.

    When the defendants were re-arraigned yesterday, Nwosu changed his plea to not guilty.

    Bashir, who earlier pleaded not guilty, changed his plea to guilty.

    Mrs Alison-Madueke, said to be at large, was named in the charge.

    Prosecution counsel Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo urged the court to convict Bashir in view of his plea and to accept the plea bargain agreement reached with him, dated May 2.

    It was agreed in the plea bargain that Bashir would forfeit a parcel of land measuring 100ft by 100 at Taoheed Road, Budo-Osho Village, Illorin South Local Government Area in Kwara State.

    “That a fine of N10million is proposed to this Honourable Court to be imposed on him upon his conviction on count four of the amended charge.

    “That in paying the fine of N10million, the defendant shall raise a draft of N5million in addition to the sum of N5million already recovered from him,” the agreement reads in part.

    Reviewing the facts of the case, Oyedepo said EFCC received an intelligence in late 2004 that Mrs Alison-Madueke received gratification from various oil companies such as Northern Bet Oil and Gas, Auctus Integrated Company and an oil magnate Adesanya Laitan.

    “The total sum received was $115,010,000. It was kept in the custody of a bank which received instructions to convert the sums to naira and distribute to the 36 states and the FCT.

    “Our investigation established that the second defendant (Bashir) in conjunction with the first defendant (Nwosu) signed a receipt for N264,880,” Oyedepo said.

    He tendered the receipt and Bashir’s statement in evidence.

    “We discovered that though he signed for a total of N264,880, we found as a fact that he received N70,050,000 from the third defendant.

    “Out of the N70million, he only benefited N28million, which has been forfeited. The property he acquired with it has been recovered. We have the deed of assignment and plan,” Oyedepo said.

    The lawyer tendered the receipt of payment as well as bank draft of N5million in favour of EFCC Recovered Funds Main account.

    He urged the court to convict the defendant in line with the terms of the plea bargain agreement.

    Ruling, Justice Idris held: “From the facts, the second defendant benefited in the sum of N28million which has been fully recovered by the EFCC.

    “The property of the second defendant in Illorin has been recovered. According to the prosecution, this property is worth more than N25million.

    “And a draft in the sum of N5million has been recovered and surrendered to the EFCC. In essence, assets and cash in excess of N30million have been recovered by EFCC.

    “It’s not in contention that the second defendant is both elderly and a first time offender. Therefore, the court will temper justice with mercy.

    “It is in the light of the above that I find the plea bargain agreement acceptable. It in consonance with Section 370 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, and it is also not in contravention of Section 16 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

    “In the light of the above, judgment be and is hereby entered against the second defendant in terms of the agreement. This is the judgment of the court.”

    Oyedepo urged the court to return the case to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge for the trial of other defendants.

    He said the ACJL provides that where a judge refuses a plea bargain and a defendant changes his plea to not guilty, the trial would be before a different judge.

    But Nwosu’s lawyer, Obinna Ilene, said the trial could go on before Justice Idris since Nwosu had been rearranged.

    He also alleged that his client was induced to plead guilty and that EFCC imposed a lawyer on him, but Oyedepo denied the allegations.

    “We found out that he was put under intense pressure. He has been in detention for over one month. A counsel was also imposed on him,” he said.

    Justice Idris asked the parties to address him on whether the case should be reassigned to another judge.

    He adjourned till May 15 for hearing of Nwosu’s bail application and for counsel to address him.

     

  • EFCC investigating three Federal universities – Minister

    EFCC investigating three Federal universities – Minister

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently investigating three federal universities established by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan over allegations of financial misconducts.

    The universities under the EFCC searchlight are federal universities of Kashere, Dutsin-Ma, and Otuoke.

    The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, disclosed this during the inauguration of a seven-man probe panel on the 12 new federal universities established by Jonathan’s administration between 2011 and 2013.

    Adamu said the EFCC is probing how the universities utilized the take-off grants released to them by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

    The universities under probe are federal university, Lokoja; federal university, Oye-Ekiti; federal university, Ndufu-Alike; federal university, Dutse; and federal university, Gusau.

    Others are federal university, Gashua; federal university, Birnin-Kebbi; federal university, Lafia; and federal university, Wukari.

    Adamu said the 12 universities were provided with grants to enable them to effectively meet their operational recurrent expenditure and most importantly, capital expenditure towards the execution of the various identified take-off projects.

    He, however, said the audit panel was necessitated by the avalanche of complaints and petitions from stakeholders and clients including the new vice chancellors of the 12 universities as well as campus-based unions and community leaders.

    The minister said: “The EFCC is also currently investigating a number of allegations of financial impropriety arising from the utilization of the take-off grants in some of the universities such as, Kashere, Dutsin-Ma and Otuoke.

    “It is highly desired, in line with the stance of the present administration on transparency and accountability in public affairs, that an audit of the utilization of the grants for the take-off projects in the 12 universities be undertaken.”

    While stressing that the audit panel was not an attempt to witch-hunt anybody, the minister urged members of the committee to discharge their responsibility with diligence and seriousness it deserves.

    The committee was mandated to determine the actual amount released to the National Universities Commission (NUC) by TETFund as take-off grant for projects in the 12 universities.

  • Serving prisoner jailed 170 years for defrauding bank manager

    Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on Tuesday sentenced a serving prisoner, Ikechuwu Ogbu, to another 170 years imprisonment for defrauding a bank manager of N12.3 million.

    However, he will spent 18 years in prison as the sentences will run concurrently.

    Ogbu was arraigned on 10- count charge of obtaining money by false pretenses and stealing alongside his co- defendant, Ibebugbu Chuks, by Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC).

    The EFCC said the defendants orchestrated and defrauded a branch Manager of Bank PHB now Keystone Bank, Mr. Patrick Edet Chukwu of N12.3 million under false pretences from inside Kirikiri Maximum Prison while serving jail term for another fraud related offence.

    The defendants when arraigned on June 10, 2011 had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the commission.

    Delivering judgment on the matter on Tuesday, Justice Okunnu found Ogbu guilty of all the charges against him.

    The judge discharged the second defendant, Chuks of the offences, saying the prosecutor failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

    She said there was nothing to show that the second defendant knew anything about the money sent to his account.

    “I am of a view that the prosecution failed to prove his case against the second defendant because there was no direct evidence against him,” the judge held.

     

  • Customs paid N12m into Ofili-Ajumogobia’s account – witness

    Customs paid N12m into Ofili-Ajumogobia’s account – witness

    Mr Musa Omale, a witness in the ongoing trial of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for corruption, on Friday, said that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) paid N12 million into a bank account owned by the judge.

    Omale, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, made the assertion while giving testimony in the ongoing trial of the judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia before an Ikeja High Court.

    Led in evidence by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the witness said that the NCS paid the amount into the account of a company, Nigel and Colive Ltd.

    Omale, who is the fifth witness for the anti-graft agency, said that the account was run by the judge.

    He said that the transaction occurred on July 11, 2014, under the instructions of the then Comptroller General of the NCS, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko.

    “In the course of my duty in 2014, the Deputy Comptroller General who I was directly working with, Mr Musa Tahir, came down from the office of Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Mr Abdullahi Dikko.

    “He gave me the account number of Nigel and Colive Ltd, telling me that the CGC said that we should liase with the 12 commands of the customs service and that each command should pay N1million each into my bank account.

    “Tahir told me that when I receive the money, I should transfer the whole sum into the account of Nigel and Colive.

    “The instructions were carried out as directed and on July 11, 2014, the N12 million was paid in three trenches of N3million, N4million and N5million into the account of Nigel and Colive Ltd.

    “No services were rendered to our command to warrant the payments of the funds into the account,” Musa said.

    The witness, in his evidence, said that when he was invited by the EFCC, he was initially tempted to give a false statement to the anti-graft agency.

    “I was invited to the EFCC office, I was told to explain the reason behind the transaction and I remember volunteering to give my statements.

    “I was initially trying to protect myself stating that I did not know anything about the money but at a point, something was telling me ‘when did you become a liar, do you not know your upbringing?

    “At that point, I retracted my statement and I revealed all that transpired during the course of that transaction,” Musa said.

    However, while being cross – examined by the lead defence counsel to Ofili-Ajumogobia, Mr Robert Clarke (SAN), Musa said he did not know the purpose of the N12 million he transferred.

    Clarke said, “In the face of the statement of account that you’re holding, does it show any reason for transferring the money?

    “You work with the NCS which is a para – military organisation, I believe you are trained to obey to the last instructions without asking questions.

    “The spirit that told you to tell the truth at the EFCC, was it an acquired spirit or when you were receiving instructions and transferring the money did the spirit tell you anything?’’

    Responding to Clarke’s questions, Musa said “The statement of account in my hands does not reveal any reason for the transaction.

    “I was instructed by my bosses to do the transaction and I’m not trained to ask questions, it was my conscience that told me to tell the truth.

    “I was not harassed, coerced or intimidated by the EFCC to give my statements.”

    NAN reports that on March 17, a fourth prosecution witness, Mr Uchenna Okaranwolu, a former banker, had revealed to the court that the Delta State Government had paid N15 million into the judge’s Access bank account.

    Ofili-Ajumogobia, is standing trial alongside Mr Godwin Obla, SAN, a former prosecutor of the EFCC.

    The duo is jointly charged on two-counts of perverting the course of justice while Obla is facing an additional two counts of offering gratification in the sum of N5 million to Ofili-Ajumogobia, a public official, while serving as a judge.

    Ofili-Ajumogobia faces a 26-count charge bordering on unlawful enrichment, taking property by a public officer, corruption by a public officer, forgery and giving false information to an official of the EFCC.

    Both denied all the charges.

    Another prosecution witness, Mr Robertson Emafidon, revealed during proceedings details of the N5 million which was transferred from Obla’s United Bank of Africa (UBA) bank into the judge’s account.

    Emafidon, the Head of Regulatory Liason at the Head Office of the UBA, said “Sometime in November 2016, we received a letter from the EFCC asking us to avail them of the account opening documents and statement of account regarding the subject customer.

    “I made copies of the documents, certified them as true copied, signed and forwarded them as a letter back to the EFCC.

    “There was a debit of N5million on May 21, 2015 from the account of Obla and Co into the bank account of Nigel and Colive Ltd.

    “On May 18, 2015 there was a credit of N16.5million from the account of D.S.J Integrated Services into the bank account of Obla and Co.”

    However, while being cross – examined by Clarke and Chief Ferdinard Orbih (SAN), defence counsel to Obla, Emafidon denied any knowledge of the purpose of the bank transfers.

    “I don’t know the purpose of the transfers, I was not personally involved in any of these transactions and I was not in any of the branches where the transactions occurred,” Emafidon said.

    After the witnesses had given their evidence, Oyedepo, the EFCC counsel, made an oral application to the court seeking for some witness summons to compel additional witnesses to testify for the EFCC in the trial.

    “My Lord, I want to apply for a witness summons to be issued on Mr Charles Musa, a proposed eleventh witness on the proof of evidence, Mr Frank Ezenwe and Mr Danladi Haliyu the fifth and sixth witnesses in the additional list of witnesses.

    “We will also request for a subpoena to the Registrar of Titles of the Bureau of Lands, Lagos, to produce a deed of assignment,” Oyedepo said.

    Justice Hakeem Oshodi adjourned the case until May 26 for the continuation of trial.

  • Reps refer Buhari to interpretation of law on Magu’s confirmation

    Reps refer Buhari to interpretation of law on Magu’s confirmation

    The House of Representatives has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to approach the court for the interpretation of the laws surrounding the appointment of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Despite being told that being the aggrieved party, the House ought to be the body to approach the court for the position of law on the issue, the lawmakers insisted that the Executive should head to the court for clarity on the issue.

    The lawmakers said their decision became imperative for the preservation of doctrine of separation of power going by the remarks by Vice President (VP) Yemi Osinbajo, who backed his position with Section 171 of the Constitution that the appointment of EFCC Chairman does not require the confirmation of the Senate.

    The Senate had to reject President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominee, Ibrahim Magu twice.

    Following the adoption of a motion on the need to prevent the erosion of the doctrine of the separation of powers in the nation’s democratic practice by  Minority Leader Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta), the lawmakers roundly condemned the Vice President for attempting to ridicule the nation’s parliament with his remarks on the issue.

    Ogor said rather than make utterances that point to a negation of the doctrine contained in Sections  4(2), 5 and 6 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Executive should approach the court for the interpretation of the law.

    He said: ” I brought this motion clearly in defence of our democracy and in defence of the doctrine of the separation of power. Our democracy stands on a tripod which must be protected”, he said.

    “By the clear provision of Section 2 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, the Chairman of the anti-corruption agency shall be nominated by the President subject to the confirmation of the Senate;

    “I am convinced that the EFCC Act is an Act of the National Assembly that can only be set aside by a Court of competent jurisdiction, and until that happens, the law remains in force and binding on all persons and authorities in the country;

    “Furthermore, I’m  aware that the Executive Arm of Government has not filed any proceeding in any court to challenge the provision of Section 2 (3) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act of 2004.

    “Under the Doctrine of Separation of Powers, the interpretation of the Constitution and Acts of Parliament is the sole responsibility of the Judiciary and not that of any person or official of the other Arms of Government;

    “It should be of concern that the statement credited to the Vice President is capable of eroding the Doctrine of Separation of Powers in our democracy, with its obvious implication of instituting a dictatorship in the country.”

    Supporting the motion, among several other lawmakers, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) said Osinbajo should know that he is not the best despite being a professor.

    He said utterances of the government officials like the VP should be discouraged from being turned into the government policies.

    Sunday Karimi (PDP, Kogi) said the VP should be summoned to explain to the House why he has to ridicule the nation’s parliament with his remarks.

    On the other hand, Sani Zoro  (APC, Jigawa) urged his colleagues to exercise caution by confirming the authenticity of the remarks credited to the VP before taking a decision.

    On his part,  Abiodun Balogun (APC, Lagos)  said since it was the House that was the aggrieved party, in this case, it should be the one to approach the court for the interpretation of the law.

    “It is not advisable to ask the Federal Government to approach the court over its own position in this matter.”

    The contributions of the two were rejected.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    Committee on Legislative Compliance was mandated to ensure the implementation of the resolution.

  • Ikoyigate: Lawyer wants court to delay execution of forfeiture order

    A Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, has asked the Federal High Court to stay proceedings on the forfeiture of $43,449,947 (about N13billion), N23,218,000 and £27,800 (about N10.6 million) found in a flat in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    He sought an order directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to furnish the court with a report of its preliminary or final investigation on the source of the money, its owner, and how the currencies got into the building.

    He is also praying for an order compelling the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the police to immediately begin a thorough investigation of the cash.

    Justice Muslim Hassan had on April 13 ordered that the money be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government until the owner shows up.

    He directed the EFCC to advertise the forfeiture order in a newspaper so that anybody who owns the money can claim it within 14 days.

    The federal government on April 19 ordered a full scale investigation on the large sums and constituted a three-man committee comprising Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Attorney-General of the Federation and the National Security Adviser to unravel the mystery behind the money within 14 days.

    Ogungbeje, in a motion on notice, is praying for a stay of proceedings pending the outcome of the investigation by the Osinbajo panel.

    According to him, the court should not order a permanent forfeiture of the money since there are claims and counter claims as to its ownership by the Rivers State government and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

    He said the EFCC has not produced any report on the sources of the money, owners of the building and how the currencies got there.

    “This honourable court has the inherent jurisdiction under Section 6 (6)(b) of the Constitution to order and direct thorough investigation on the sources of the monies, their owners, the owners of the Osborne Towers where the monies were found and how they got into the building.

    “A thorough and transparent investigation of the funds will strengthen the anti-corruption crusade In Nigeria.

    “Nigerians are interested in the sources, owners of the monies, owners of the building and how the monies got into Osborne Residential apartment,” he said.

    In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Ogungbeje, the lawyer said it would be prejudicial for the court to order the money’s permanent forfeiture to the federal government while investigation was ongoing.

     

  • EFCC withdraws motion halting Patience Jonathan’s access to account

    EFCC withdraws motion halting Patience Jonathan’s access to account

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday withdrew its application for a stay of execution of the judgment which freed the account of wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun on April 6 freed the account with Skye Bank Plc with $5,842,316.66 (about N1.7 billion).

    Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) had argued that her client was not a party to the suit by the EFCC, which resulted in freezing the account.

    Dissatisfied with the order, EFCC filed an application for a stay of execution and a notice of appeal.

    The two applications, according to EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, were dated April 6 and filed on April 7.

    Yesterday, Oyedepo informed Justice Olatoregun of the commission’s intention to discontinue the two applications.

    Adedipe confirmed the service of the application for withdrawal.

    He informed the court of his intention to withdraw contempt applications he filed against the bank.

    He said the Form 48 (notice of consequence of disobedience of court order) and Form 49 were filed against the Skye Bank for failing to obey the order freeing Jonathan’s account.

    Justice Olatoregun granted the applications.

    She froze the account last year and with that of five companies and Esther Oba’s.

    The companies’ accounts were said to contained N7.4 billion; and Oba’s $429,381.87 (about N131,712,634.09).

    Adedipe had urged the court to free the account on the grounds that his client was not a party to the suit.

    Citing judicial authorities, he contended that the suit was an abuse of court process as the court had no jurisdiction to make an order against a person that was not a party to a suit before it.

    EFCC, it was learnt, did not file any response to the application to discharge the order.

    Justice Olatoregun upheld Adedipe’s submission and discharged the order freezing the account.

    She made an order directing EFCC and Skye Bank to immediately free the account because all the claims in the plaintiff’s affidavit were not challenged or controverted.

     

  • Ex-Governor Babangida Aliyu remanded in prison

    Ex-Governor Babangida Aliyu remanded in prison

    Former Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and the People’s Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate of the 2015 general elections, Umar Nasko have been remanded in the Minna Medium Security Prisons by a Minna High Court Judge, Justice Aliyu Mayaki.
    The duo are to remain in Prison until the May 3 when a hearing for their bail application will be heard and ruled upon.
    The decision to keep them in prison was taken after six hours of fierce exchange by Counsel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Gbolahan Latona and counsels to Aliyu and Nasko, Ayodele Oladeji and Mamman Mike Osuman.
    “The case is to be opened on June 12, 2017 and to be held day by day till 16th June and the ruling on bail is to be delivered on 3rd May, 2017. They are to be remanded in Medium Security prisons in Minna,” Justice Maiyaki ruled.
    The Lead Counsel to the EFCC, Gbolahan Latona levelled a Six count charge against Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu as the first defendant and a five count charge on Umar Mohammed Nasko as the 2nd defendant.
    The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges read to them.

  • Patience Jonathan’s account: EFCC withdraws application for stay of execution

    Patience Jonathan’s account: EFCC withdraws application for stay of execution

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday withdrew a motion before a Federal High Court Lagos for stay of execution of a judgment which unfroze the account of a former first lady, Patience Jonathan.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had on April 6 unfreeze the account after Jonathan’s lawyer, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), challenged the propriety of EFCC’s action.

    He had challenged the commission for joining her in a suit, which he said, she was not a party to, and urged the court to unfreeze Jonathan’s account.

    Dissatisfied with the unfreezing order, EFCC had filed an application for a stay of execution of the order as well as a notice of appeal challenging the judgment.

    The two applications, according to EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, were dated April 6 and filed on April 7.

    At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Oyedepo informed the court of his agency’s intention to withdraw the two applications.

    He did not give reasons for the withdrawal.

    Following the withdrawal of the applications, Adedipe confirmed service of the application for withdrawal on the defendants.

    He equally informed the court of his intention to withdraw Form 48 (notice of Committal to prison) and Form 49 (Committal to prison), which he said, was filed against Skye Bank in anticipation of a failure to obey the order of the court.

    After the submissions of both counsel, Olatoregun granted the withdrawal of both the EFCC’s two applications and Patience Jonathan’s Form 48 and Form 49 respectively.

    Olatoregun had in 2016 following the application of EFCC, ordered that the account of the former first lady which housed the sum of about 5.8 million dollars be frozen on the grounds that the money was suspected to be proceeds of a crime.

    Also affected by the order were five liability companies habouring a total sum of N7.4 billion.

    The five companies are Finchley Top Homes Ltd, Aribawa Aruera, Magel Resort Ltd, AM -PM Global Network Ltd, Pansy Oil and Gas Ltd .

    Also, affected was an account belonging to one Esther Oba having the sum of 429,000 dollars.

    The freezing order was sequel to a further and better affidavit in support of an ex-parte originating summons deposed to by Abdulahi Tukur, an investigating officer of the EFCC.

    Tukur had averred that there was urgent need for the court to direct the managers of the bank accounts contained in the schedule to in the interim forfeit the money contained to prevent further dissipation.

    While granting the freezing order, the judge had ordered the anti -graft agency to file an undertaking as to damages if it turned out that the order should not have been made. (NAN)

  • Patience Jonathan’s account: EFCC withdraws application for stay of execution

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday withdrew a motion before a Federal High Court Lagos for stay of execution of a judgment which unfroze the account of a former first lady, Patience Jonathan.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had on April 6 unfreeze the account after Jonathan’s lawyer, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), challenged the propriety of EFCC’s action.

    He had challenged the commission for joining her in a suit, which he said, she was not a party to, and urged the court to unfreeze Jonathan’s account.

    Dissatisfied with the unfreezing order, EFCC had filed an application for a stay of execution of the order as well as a notice of appeal challenging the judgment.

    The two applications, according to EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, were dated April 6 and filed on April 7.

    At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Oyedepo informed the court of his agency’s intention to withdraw the two applications.

    He did not give reasons for the withdrawal.

    Following the withdrawal of the applications, Adedipe confirmed service of the application for withdrawal on the defendants.

    He equally informed the court of his intention to withdraw Form 48 (notice of Committal to prison) and Form 49 (Committal to prison), which he said, was filed against Skye Bank in anticipation of a failure to obey the order of the court.

    After the submissions of both counsel, Olatoregun granted the withdrawal of both the EFCC’s two applications and Patience Jonathan’s Form 48 and Form 49 respectively.

    Olatoregun had in 2016 following the application of EFCC, ordered that the account of the former first lady which housed the sum of about 5.8 million dollars be frozen on the grounds that the money was suspected to be proceeds of a crime.

    Also affected by the order were five liability companies habouring a total sum of N7.4 billion.

    The five companies are Finchley Top Homes Ltd, Aribawa Aruera, Magel Resort Ltd, AM -PM Global Network Ltd, Pansy Oil and Gas Ltd .

    Also, affected was an account belonging to one Esther Oba having the sum of 429,000 dollars.

    The freezing order was sequel to a further and better affidavit in support of an ex-parte originating summons deposed to by Abdulahi Tukur, an investigating officer of the EFCC.

    Tukur had averred that there was urgent need for the court to direct the managers of the bank accounts contained in the schedule to in the interim forfeit the money contained to prevent further dissipation.

    While granting the freezing order, the judge had ordered the anti -graft agency to file an undertaking as to damages if it turned out that the order should not have been made. (NAN)