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Tag: ex-first lady

  • Jonathan’s wife loses another N2.4bn to FG

    Exactly eight days after the Supreme Court upheld Federal Government’s interim seizure of the $8.4 million believed to be owned by ex-First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, the apex court has again agreed to a similar forfeiture of another N2.4bn linked with Mrs. Jonathan.

    While men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the $8.4 million were discovered in some accounts linked to the ex-First Lady, the N2,421,953,522.00 was said to be held in bank accounts owned by Lawari Furniture and Bath Limited, an entity in which Mrs. Jonathan allegedly has interest.

    In a judgment yesterday, a five-man panel of the Supreme Court rejected the appeal by Lawari Furniture on the grounds that it was without merit. The appeal was filed and argued for the appellant by Mike Ozekhome (SAN).

    In the lead judgment written by Justice Amiru Sanusi but read by Justice Sidi Bage, the court upheld the order of interim forfeiture made by a High Court in Lagos on April 26, 2017, which was affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Lagos in a judgment given on January 12, 2018.

    The court rejected the argument by the appellant who faulted the interim order of forfeiture obtained by the EFCC via an ex-parte motion, and prayed that it be set  aside.

    It also rejected the appellant’s prayer to void Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act and other Fraud related offences Act, on which the High Court relied in issuing the order of interim forfeiture.

    The court, in the lead judgment, noted that it rarely interferes in the concurrent findings of the two lower courts, except where there are exceptional circumstances and the findings perverse.

    It noted that, in the instant case, no such exceptional circumstances existed.

    In his supporting judgment, a member of the panel, Justice Ejembi Eko, observed that the substance of this appeal was similar to the one decided by the court on March 8 this year (relating to the interim forfeiture of $8.4m).

    Justice Eko said both appeals ought not to be split and assigned to different panels to avoid the risk of issuing conflicting judgments.

    He found nothing wrong with the provision of Section 17 of the Money Laundering Act, which he noted was the same as the provision in Section 29 of EFCC Act.

    Other members of the panel, Justices Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Mary Peter Odili and Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, agreed with the lead judgment.

  • Court seizes N1.04b traced to ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan

    A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ordered an interim forfeiture of the sum of N1,000,494,000 traced to Magel Resort Limited, a company linked to former First Lady ,Dame Patience Jonathan.

    The former First Lady and some relatives of former president, Goodluck Jonathan,  were directors of the company.

    Others named as directors are Oba  Oba Tamunotonye, Goodluck Jonathan Aruera, Goodluck Jonathan Ariwabai and Esther Fynface.

    The cash was lodged in three deposits with Fidelity Bank Plc on 20th and 25th May, 2015.

    The order was granted by Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The  Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade, said in a statement yesterday that the  court also ordered that the seized cash be deposited  in the Treasury Single Account (TSA) of the Federal Government.

    He said :”The commission had received an intelligence that a bank account domiciled in Fidelity Bank, had a huge sum of money that was not being used by anybody.

    “Upon receipt of the intelligence, the EFCC swung into action by conducting preliminary investigation, which revealed that Patience and some relatives of former president, Goodluck Jonathan, were directors of the company.

    “In trying to trace the origin of the money, it was discovered that N500,000 was deposited on the 20th of May, 2015 by Fynface, who is alleged to be in charge of the company, while N1 billion  was transferred in two tranches on the 25th May, 2015 from PAGMAT Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, a company that was not incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

  • Ex-First Lady to EFCC: let’s settle out-of-court

    Ex-First Lady to EFCC: let’s settle out-of-court

    Perhaps overwhelmed by the EFCC probe and its likely consequences, the ex-First Lady has applied for an out-of-court settlement with the EFCC.

    In “a major breakthrough by EFCC with international collaboration” detectives found that about $7,452,319.32 suspicious funds were deposited in the ex-First Lady’s account with number 2110001712 between 8th February 2013 and 7th April 2015.

    The account was opened on  September 12, 2013  by a former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan Hon. Dudafa Waripamo Owei depositing  $1,948,400.00.

    About 23 other individuals, including  the ex-First Lady allegedly deposited cash into  the account as follows: Festus Iyoha ($287,100.000); Ocheche Emmanuel ($150,000);  Philemon Buoro ($150,000);  Festus Isidahomen ($100,000);  Felicia Apatake ($148,900); Patricia Okogun ($ 99,700); Buoro Ojo  ($400,000); Stella Wasiu  ($250,000);  Amaka Adebayo  ($250,000);  Segun Moses  ($249,400); Jimoh Peter ($246,700);  Ahmed Musa ($196,400); Ibrahim Musa($198,300); Dame P. Jonathan ($100,000);  Ayemere Sunday ($ 250,000);  Eneji A.P ($300,000); Johnson Ojo ($300,000);  Mary Buoro ($400,000); Jude  Bosede ($500,000); Festus Iyoha ($400,000);  Jimoh Moses ($400,000) and  Ahmed Musa ($100,000).

    “The balance in this account as at 9th September 2016 was about $5,831,173.55,” the EFCC said.

    The second account was opened on February 22, 2013 at First Bank.

    Cash deposits were made into the account between 26th February 2013 and 30th April, 2017 which altogether was $4,036,750.

    Apart from the ex-First Lady who deposited $2,037,650 in nine tranches, other lodgments ranged  from $98,900 to $400,000.

    The former SA Domestic, Dudafa Waripamo Owei, led the pack of depositors on 27th February 2013 with a deposit of $400,000. Other depositors are: Germaine ($100,000); Dudafa ($400,000); Germani ($200,000); Ade Suleiman ($200,000); Mohammed Adamu ($300,000); Francis Muhd ($300,000); Kunle Peter ($200,000); Suleiman Ade ($299,900,00) and Jonathan Patience ($2,037,650).

    “Detectives traced the transactions pattern placed the card holder in various countries to United States, Great Britain, Germany, Hong Kong, UAE and Italy.

    The card was allegedly used in highbrow shops, such as Marks and Spencer,  Kingsgate, Natwest Bank, Gina stores and Harrods.

    “ The balance in this account as at 9th September 2016 was $3,691,145.48.”

    A source in EFCC said: “We have gone far in our investigation of the ex-First Lady to prove that it is not  a case of witch-hunt in any manner whatsoever. We are already trying to verify the names of the depositors if they really existed or they are fake.

    “ Since we have uncovered all these suspicious deposits, we only need her to account in court on how she came about them. Our crack teams worked day and night to trace these funds.

    “With international collaboration, there is no hiding place for Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) because some of these malls sometimes  report suspicious transactions or spending. They marvelled at where top Nigerian political office holders and their spouses got the cash being lavished.”

    The former First Lady, however,  seems to be tired of litigation over her fortune. In a January 30, 2018 letter, titled “Proposal for out-of-Court Settlement of all cases related to Dame (Mrs.) Ibifaka Patience Jonathan,” she told the EFCC of her intention to settle the matter.

    The letter, which was written by her counsel, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), is being considered by the EFCC.

    The letter said: “As senior counsel,  representing Dame (Mrs.) Patience Jonathan (former First Lady) and companies linked to her and some family members, associates,  companies and NGOs, we have thought it fit to engage your commission in a discussion over all issues involving her and the commission with a view to having amicable resolution of all cases as stated above.

    “This will enable both sides create an atmosphere for mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence. We will therefore appreciate it, if you can give us an appointment at your earliest convenience to have a discussion over all matters involving her and members of her family.

    “We believe that an amicable settlement will be in the best interest of both your commission and our client.

    “We assure you of our utmost commitment and sincerity of purpose in this connection,  and we solicit your cooperation in this regard. Please, accept the assurances of our warm regards.”

    Another EFCC source said: “We have received a letter from the ex-First Lady, we are studying it on whether or not to accept the out-of-court settlement or allow justice to take its course.”

    Read Also: How Jonathan’s wife blew $41,438 in one-day shopping

    Apart from the cash, the ex-First Lady is linked to 12 choice properties and a plot of land on which a building is being built.

    The investigative team had recommended that Section 7 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 be invoked on the properties after due verification.

    The assets linked to Mrs. Jonathan in Port Harcourt  are:  Former Customs Service officers mess; two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street; landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; 3 Luxury apartments of 4-bedroom each at Ambowei Street;  and Grand View Hotel along airport road.

    In Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, are two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway;  Glass House along Sani Abacha Expressway which is housing Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring  Board; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP filling Station, Melford Okilo  Road; and Aridolf  Resort, Wellness and Spa on Sani Abacha Expressway.

  • Ex-First Lady’s ‘fake firm’ in N300m deals

    Ex-First Lady’s ‘fake firm’ in N300m deals

    Three unregistered companies, one of which got N300 million contracts, are allegedly owned by former First Lady Patience Jonathan.

    The firms are Euroricia Concept Limited, Pasturage Vert and Mabelt Construction Limited, according to the Economic and FIancial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Mrs Jonathan is under probe for allegedly using one of the firms to secure contracts from the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) for the fencing of Kuje Prison and supply of beddings to some other facilities.

    Funds were also allegedly diverted from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to the “bogus” firms.

    The EFCC has released Mrs Jonathan’s sister Esther Oba after interrogation. She was arrested last week at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in connection with alleged laundering of over N359, 397,458.26 through two firms linked with her sister.

    Her passport was not returned to her to restrict her movement to the country pending the conclusion of the investigation.

    A source close to the latest findings said:  “Contracts were given to companies owned by her but not registered.

    “Our detectives went to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), searched the database and discovered that these companies were unregistered.

    “The companies are Euroricia Concept Limited, Pasturage Vert and Mabelt Construction Limited. Funds were diverted into these companies from some government agencies, including the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).”

    The EFCC believes that Mrs. Jonathan used one of the companies to get an unspecified amount of money for a project named Rural Information Technology Centres across the country.

    The NPS could not defend some of the N300m contracts given the firm.

    EFCC investigators are to interrogate Mrs. Jonathan in connection with alleged laundering of over N359, 397,458.26 through two firms.

    The companies are AM-PM Global Networks Limited and Finchley Homes Limited.

    About N317, 397,458.26 was traced to the suspect in AM-PM Global Networks Limited.

    She is expected to explain how she came about the management of N42million in Finchley Homes Limited.

    “We are probing some of the assets of Esther Oba and we may approach the court to place all these assets under Interim Assets Forfeiture in line with Sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004,” the source said.

    The ex-First Lady had through her Chief Press Secretary, Belema Meshack-Hart. denied having any link with a N200m IT contract from the National Information Technology Development Agency.

    The statement said: “In their concocted report they claimed that the former first lady is a sole signatory of Magel Resort Limited, a hotel owned by her late mum, Mama Charity Oba. This is untrue as the former first lady had no dealings with the hotel until the demise of her late mum after which the Hotel was handed over to her with the presentation of the death certificate of her mum.

    ”It was also alleged that N200m IT contract was awarded to Magel Resort Limited, this is a figment of the imagination of EFCC as no such contract was awarded to the company. EFCC must stop this media trial and blackmail aimed at tarnishing the image of the former first Lady and get down to the business of conducting proper investigation.”

  • EFCC: Ex-First Lady’s $15.5m stolen from govt, agencies

    EFCC: Ex-First Lady’s $15.5m stolen from govt, agencies

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that former First Lady Patience Jonathan could not have genuinely earned the $15.5million which she claims ownership of.

    In its defence to her suit challenging the freezing of her accounts, the commission argued that Mrs Jonathan does not run any business from which she could have earned such huge sums.

    EFCC said its investigations showed that the money was allegedly stolen from the Federal Government and its agencies, and that it does not belong to the former First Lady.

    “There is no way the plaintiff (Mrs Jonathan) could have genuinely earned the monies. She is the wife of the former president, a civil servant and a retired permanent secretary in Bayelsa State.

    “She does not run any profit and interest yielding business venture to generate such money.

    “Investigation conducted by the first defendant (EFCC) revealed that the plaintiff is not the owner of the funds in the accounts of the third to fifth defendants (companies), which funds were discovered to be proceeds of fraudulent activities of Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel Dudafa,” EFCC said.

    Mrs Jonathan sued the EFCC, Skye Bank Plc and three companies – Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd and Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd.

    She is praying for an order restraining the defendants from tampering with her funds in the companies’ accounts domiciled in Skye Bank.

    She asked for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the EFCC from transferring the funds to the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    Mrs Jonanthan said the funds in the companies’ accounts belonged to her, but she had been unable to operate the account after EFCC placed a “no debit order” on the accounts.

    The former first lady said representatives of the companies, who pleaded guilty to laundering the money, were unknown to her; nor were they authorised to represent them.

    “The plaintiff/applicant is the lawful owner of her hard earned funds,” she said, adding that her ownership of the money has not been controverted by a third party.

    Mrs Jonathan said she sought the assistance of Dudafa, former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Jonathan, to open some accounts in her name.

    She said she was issued with four ATM cards after the accounts were opened.

    According to her, she protested the fact that three of the four accounts bore the names of companies she had no connection with.

    The bank, she said, promised to rectify the issue. She continued to operate the accounts pending when changes would be effected, according to the former First Lady.

    Mrs Jonathan said she went abroad in July 2016 for a medical check-up and discovered that she could not make payments from the accounts due to the “no debit order”.

    The former First Lady, in her written address, accused EFCC making moves to take her money from her through an order of forfeiture.

    She said the moves included the “procurement of some unknown persons  who pleaded guilty to a charge and were convicted on November 2, 2016.”

    In urging the court to lift the “no-debit order” and grant her access to her accounts, Mrs Jonathan said she “needs her money to able to cater to her health.”

    But, EFCC, in its statement of defence, said its investigations revealed that between 2013 and 2015, “huge sums of money were stolen from the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agencies.”

    The agencies, it said, were the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), “etc”.

    EFCC said some of the funds “were converted to dollars and converted to the use of Dudafa”.

    The commission said between February 21, 2014 and April 19, 2016, Pluto Property “fraudulently received and retained” $3,096,377.38.

    The sum, EFCC said, was deposited by State House domestic stewards, Festus Iyoha and Peter Arivin, “using fictitious names on the instruction of Dudafa.”

    The commission said between November 14, 2013 and June 27, 2016, Seagate Properties received $3,624,998.78; while Trans Ocean received $3,765,711.87, “which are suspected to be proceeds of crime.”

    Another company, Globus Integrated Services Limited, was said to have received “a whopping sum of $5,119,021.45” in its account.

    EFCC said after it charged the companies, their representatives pleaded guilty to retaining $15,591,700.

    It insisted that after analysing the companies’ accounts, “it is crystal clear that the plaintiff was neither a director nor a shareholder”.

    The commission said it was Dudafa who allegedly procured the domestic stewards in the State House Abuja to deposit the monies “in an attempt to disguise the proceeds of crime using fictitious names”.

    EFCC said it obtained a valid court order to freeze the accounts, and that it did not need to inform Mrs Jonathan before doing so “as the funds in the said accounts do not belong to her”.

    It added that the firmer First Lady was not entitled to any reliefs, and that her case “is frivolous, spurious, speculative, vexatious and an abuse of court process and should be dismissed with substantial cost.”

    Justice Mohammed Idris had ordered parties to file pleadings in the case, indicating that witnesses, including Mrs Jonathan, may testify to justify the money’s ownership.

    The case will be heard on January 19.

  • Ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan’s $15.591m case for Jan 19

    Ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan’s $15.591m case for Jan 19

    THE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday adjourned hearing of former First Lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan’s suit seeking to unfreeze her accounts till January 19

    The accounts are said to have $15.5 million in them.

    Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned to enable the former first lady’s lawyers to respond to an objection by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Mrs. Jonathan is praying the court to discharge a no debit order placed on the accounts.

    The judge 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.

    He directed them to file pleadings, which they did.

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

    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.

  • About ex-first lady’s church

    Former first lady of Delta State, Roli Uduaghan’s spiritual edifice which she founded during her tenure in the state house has become like an abandoned house since her husband vacated office.

    At the height of the Uduaghans’ stay in the government house, the church she started, Great Commission Assembly, situated off Okpa Anam Road, Asaba, was a beehive every Sunday as the creme de la creme of Delta political and social classes converged there, seeking to get something from her husband through her. The house of God became a clearing house of sorts where powerbrokers met to trade favours or iron out one issue or the other.

    However, no sooner had the first family left the government house than her church began to witness a decrease in attendance. Those who know say that Roli’s church is no longer a meeting place of choice for the politicians who have taken their ‘ware’ elsewhere. With no political currency to be gained from attendance, the favour-seeking crowd have disappeared.

  • EFCC links Patience Jonathan with 9 houses, 2 hotels, one plaza

    EFCC links Patience Jonathan with 9 houses, 2 hotels, one plaza

    •Writes Bayelsa Head of Service on Patience’s pay status as Perm Sec
    •Anti-graft agency recovers N1b in South-South, secures 24 convictions

    THE PROPERTIES

    PORT HARCOURT
    •Former Customs Service officers mess
    •Two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street
    •Landed property at Ambowei Street
    •Three luxury apartments of 4-bedroom each at Ambowei Street
    •Grand View Hotel on Airport Road

    YENAGOA
    •Two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway
    •Glass House on Adaka Boro Expressway
    •Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP Filling Station, Melford Okilo Road
    •Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa on Isaac Boro Abacha Expressway

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigators probing ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan’s link with five choice buildings, including a N5billion hotel in Abuja, have unearthed seven additional properties believed to be owned by her.

    The detectives were in Port Harcourt (Rivers State) and Yenagoa (Bayelsa State) all week trying to establish whether four properties in the two cities truly belong to Mrs. Jonathan.

    The Nation can now confirm that the assignment led the investigators to suspect that seven more properties including the former Customs Service officers mess in Port Harcourt and a plot of land under construction were acquired by her.

    Others in the Rivers State capital are: two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street; landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; three Luxury apartments of 4-bedroom each at Ambowei Street; and Grand View Hotel on Airport road.

    Those in Yenagoa are: two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway; Glass House on Sani Abacha Expressway which serves as office of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP filling Station, Melford Okilo Road; and Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa along Sani Abacha Expressway.

    The anti-graft agency, which says it has so far recovered N1b and  secured 24 convictions in the South South, may invoke  Section 7 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 on the affected properties after due verification, sources said yesterday.

    Already, the EFCC has written to the Head of the Civil Service in Bayelsa State demanding the pay status and allowances of Mrs. Jonathan during her tenure as a Permanent Secretary.

    It also sought explanation on whether or not she was paid in dollars, besides travelling estacodes, while in office.

    The investigators are already back in Abuja to continue their assignment.

    A highly placed source said: “The ex-First Lady is allegedly linked with the acquisition of the former Customs Service Officers mess in Port-Harcourt.

    “We also identified three luxury apartments of four-bedroom each believed to be owned by Mrs. Jonathan. The apartments are tastefully furnished with the state of the art accessories.

    “After verification of these assets and completion of our investigation, we may seek the order of the court to place the affected assets under Interim Forfeiture.

    “Permission will be sought to ask the ex-First Lady to explain some of the sources of her wealth in line with Section 7 of the EFCC Establishment Act.

    “As a First Lady, there was no appropriation for her office and she was not on salary.”

    The Nation also gathered that the EFCC last Friday submitted a letter to the   Head of the Bayelsa State Civil Service demanding the pay status and allowances of Mrs. Jonathan as a Permanent Secretary.

    A top source said: “The letter was submitted and duly acknowledged. We already have the acknowledgement copy with us for record purpose.

    “We asked for Mrs. Jonathan’s salary and remuneration status as a Permanent Secretary while in office. We demanded to know if she was paid in dollars or in any other currency.

    “We wrote the letter in line with Section 7 of the EFCC Act because we suspected that she has been living above her means.”

    Section 7 of the EFCC Act says: “The commission has power to (a) cause any investigations to be conducted as to whether any person, corporate body or organization has committed any offence under this Act or other law relating to economic and financial crimes.

    “(b) Cause investigations to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income.”

    This is the second leg of the ongoing probe of Mrs. Jonathan after about $19.8million had been frozen in five accounts allegedly traced to her.

    Although she initially confirmed the ownership of the accounts, there was a twist on Friday when her counsel, Mr. Charles Ogboli, said she knew about three accounts including one belonging to Mrs. Jonathan and two others owned by her late mum, Madam Charity Fyneface Oba.

    A report of the EFCC investigative team had implicated the former First Lady.

    The report of the investigative team said in part: “Based on the investigation so far carried out, it has revealed that the four fraudulent VISA Platinum USD Card accounts used by Mrs. Patience Goodluck Jonathan  has a cumulative balance of $14,029.881.79 which has been swept Post No Debit Card category.

    “Again, her personal account, different from the four fraudulent VISA Platinum USD Card accounts, bears the balance of $5,841,426.17.

    “Considering the above stated findings, we can safely conclude that a prima facie case of conspiracy to retain proceeds of unlawful activities, retention of the proceeds of unlawful activities, money laundering contrary to Section 15(3) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and forgery contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004 have been established against the aforementioned suspects.”

    The EFCC claimed that all the funds traced to Patience Jonathan’s accounts were proceeds of gratification.

    The report said: “The intelligence revealed that Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel fraudulently received various sums of money, being proceeds of gratification and retained same on behalf of the then first Family and for himself.”

    Meanwhile, the Zonal Head of the EFCC in the South-South, Mr. Ishaq Saliu has said that the zone has so far secured 24 convictions and recovered N1billion.

    Saliu made the disclosures in Port Harcourt when some Niger Delta youths protested to his office on Friday against the ongoing investigation of the former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

    He dismissed allegations that the EFCC was selective in its investigation and prosecution.

    He said the EFCC will always be on the side of the law in its operations.

    He said: “There is nothing selective in the cases of EFCC. We are professionals to the core. Once an allegation is made, before somebody is even invited – the invitation is the last leg of our cases.

    “Bank documents and things we need to inquire would have been gotten. Port Harcourt Zonal office alone, this year has 24 convictions and recovered over N1billion.”

  • Ex-First Lady threatens N5b suit against Efcc

    Ex-First Lady threatens N5b suit against Efcc

    Former First Lady  Dame  Patience Jonathan has threatened a N5 billion suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if it fails to unfreeze her accounts with Skye Bank.

    She gave the agency 14 days to unfreeze the accounts being investigated.

    Mrs Jonathan’s ultimatum and threat were contained in an open letter, issued by her counsel, Messrs First Law Solicitors, signed by its Senior Partner, Timipa Jenkins Okponipere and addressed to the  EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu.

    She noted that the anti-graft body’s actions against her were both malicious and unconstitutional, adding that the said freezing of her accounts grossly violated her fundamental rights, targeted at her for political reasons.

    Mrs. Jonathan said she will not hesitate to file a legal action against the EFCC at the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in The Gambia if the commission continues to bar her access to the accounts in the next 14 days.

    The letter reads: “Sir, it is our Client’s brief that there is no formal criminal complaint of economic and financial crime as defined by the EFCC ACT 2004 written by any person or institution against her which warranted the EFCC to freeze her accounts. It is also our client’s brief that the EFCC failed to obtain a court order as required by Section 34 of the EFCC Act before her accounts were frozen.

    “It is our client’s further brief that, up until the writing of this open letter, she has not received any formal invitation to appear before the commission for questioning; whereas her accounts domiciled with SKYE Bank Plc have since been frozen by the commission without recourse to her.

    “We are very much aware of numerous instances where EFCC used strong-arm tactics to dispossess hardworking Nigerians of their legitimately earned money; only to turn around to brazenly and shamelessly loot the recovered loot. This is one of such unfortunate instances. Clearly, it is a failed politically-motivated attempt by the EFCC to steal our Client’s money using the cover of the present political climate.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, it shall be counter-productive and inimical to the public interest if the Attorney-General of the Federation and/or the EFCC heeded the calls to commence the arrest and prosecution of our client based on suspicion. If they did otherwise, they shall be violating the extant provision of Section 174(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which clearly prohibits criminal proceedings that were not in the public interest. Besides, suspicion; no matter how strong it may seem; cannot ground a conviction.

    “We hereby categorically and emphatically state that, Her Excellency, Mrs. Patience Ibifaka Jonathan should be left alone.

    “Furthermore, there is no established legal or political precedent for what the EFCC is currently doing to our client. How many former First Ladies in Nigeria have received the Patience Goodluck Jonathan Treatment (PGJT) to have warranted the EFCC to engage in the effrontery to freeze our client’s accounts and subject her to public opprobrium, ridicule and disgrace?

    “Consequently, we urge the EFCC to de-freeze our client’s accounts within 14 days from today, September 18, 2016 and tender a public apology to our client.

    “Take notice and notice is hereby given that if the EFCC fails, refuses and/or neglects to comply accordingly, we shall file an action at the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in The Gambia, demanding five billion naira (N5 billion) in exemplary and punitive damages.”

  • Ex-First Lady faults firms that pleaded guilty

    Ex-First Lady faults firms that pleaded guilty

    Former First Lady Patience Jonathan yesterday admitted that she is the owner and signatory to the five accounts in which the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) found over $22.3million.

    She said she has never received any money from any unknown sources paid into the five accounts.

    But she was silent on the sources of the cash wired into the accounts.

    Mrs. Jonathan, however, explained that the accounts were opened to facilitate her travel overseas, particularly for medical treatment, sundry purchase for herself and her late mother Mrs. Charity Oba (Mama Sisi).

    She indicted Mr. Wampemo-Owei Dudafa, the Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, and Skye Bank officials for registering phony companies for four of the five accounts.

    She denied opening the accounts in the names of cooks, drivers and artisans.

    In a statement by Yemi Akinbode, Mrs Jonathan picked holes in the authenticity of the representatives of the four companies who pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering.

    He quoted her lawyer, Gboyega Oyewole, as saying she would appeal the validity of the representatives of Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited.

    The former First Lady’s counsel alleged that the prosecution presented four unknown people as the companies’ representatives, all of whom he said did not show letters authorising them by their respective boards to represent them in the case.

     “This is a clear evidence of the desperation of the prosecution to pull down the former First Lady and confiscate her hard-earned money,” the statement quoted Oyewole as saying.

    The ex-First Lady, in another  statement by Media Assistant Chima Osuji, said although the accounts were opened in 2013, she started operating them in 2014.

    She said the remittances into the five accounts were one-third of the $31.7million being claimed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Mrs. Jonathan said she was yet to get a copy of the no debit/freezing order issued by the EFCC on the accounts and likened the agency’s investigation to Nuremberg trials.

    According to Wikipedia, Nuremberg trials were “a series of military tribunals, held by the Allied Forces after World War II which were most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, judicial and economic leadership of Nazi Germany who planned, carried out, or otherwise participated in The Holocaust and other war crimes.” The trials were held in the city of Nuremberg in Germany.

    The statement said:  “Sometime in 2013, following the advice of top officials of the EFCC then in the company of Hon. Wampemo-Owei Dudafa who was the Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to the former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, that she should not travel oversees with cash, otherwise she may contravene Money Laundering laws, Mrs Patience Jonathan agreed to open accounts with Skye Bank Plc and directed Hon. Dudafa to see to it.

    “Hon Dudafa came with two bank managers (officials) of Skye Bank Plc with the account opening forms which she duly signed.

    “These accounts were all dollar based Platinum Visa cards in respect of five accounts.

    “When the bank officials brought the ATM cards for the said accounts of which she is sole signatory, she discovered to her surprise that only one of these accounts bore her personal name while four were in the names of companies not known to her.

    “She immediately complained about this anomaly to Hon. Dudafa and the bank officials, Demola Doledeoku and Dipo Oshodi, came back to the Villa with forms to change and convert the said accounts to the personal name of Mrs Jonathan.

    “This was her firm request which the bank officials promised to effect immediately and she duly completed account conversion forms and signed the mandate forms as a the sole signatory, but as it would appear, the said bank officials did not change the Account names despite her request.

    “It was in 2014 or thereabout that she was given the ATM cards for all the five accounts, with the bank officials promising to exchange the cards for the four reflecting her correct names. This again, the bank officials failed to do despite her repeated request.”

    The former First Lady, fondly known as Madam P, denied opening the accounts in the names of cooks, drivers and artisans.

    The statement said: “That Mrs. Patience Jonathan opened accounts in the names of cooks, drivers and artisans. This is perhaps the biggest falsehood to the knowledge of EFCC.

    “The purpose for these tales by moonlight is to malign our client in the eyes of the misinformed and unsuspecting members of the Nigerian public and beyond and give a semblance of a picture of a hardworking agency bent on fighting corruption and indeed winning the war.

    “It is unfortunate that the EFCC, which belongs to all Nigerians, will rather than conduct a painstaking and thorough investigation of cases brought to it, will resort to a greater disposition and propensity to engage in media trials built on outright falsehood and give to innocent persons, including Mrs. Patience Jonathan, the toga of a “thief” or “corrupt” person even before any proper trial.”

     She said the accounts were opened to facilitate her travel overseas, particularly for medical treatment, sundry purchase for herself and her late mother, Mrs. Charity Oba (Mama Sisi).

    “It is important to highlight the following;

    • Mrs Patience Jonathan is not a director, shareholder, promoter and/or participant in any of the aforementioned four companies.
    • Mrs. Patience Jonathan is the sole signatory to all the said accounts. There is no driver, cook or artisan made to open or sign the said account with her.
    • Mrs. Patience Jonathan has never received any monies from any unknown sources paid into her accounts.
    • The said accounts as aforesaid were to facilitate her travel overseas, particularly for medical treatment, sundry purchase for herself and her late mother Mrs. Charity Oba (Mama Sisi).
    • Mrs. Patience Jonathan has never been involved in any economic crime at all.
    • These cards, all of them were being used solely by Mrs. Patience Jonathan until the four cards failed to function sometime on the 27th July 2016, which necessitated her contacting the said Skye Bank Plc to find out what the problem might be.
    • It was then, for the first time the officials of Skye Bank Plc informed Mrs Patience Jonathan that EFCC placed a no debit order/ freezing instruction on the said accounts. This was in spite of the Bank informing EFCC that those four accounts belonged to Mrs. Patience Jonathan personally.
    • It was at this stage that Mrs. Jonathan contacted her lawyers to protect her interest in her accounts with Skye Bank Plc with a Letter of Authority. The lawyers promptly contacted Skye Bank Plc.

    “The officials of the bank       wrote to the lawyers confirming the no debit status placed on the said accounts without any notification to Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

    The ex-First Lady said the net balance in the five accounts was below one-third of the $31.7million allegedly credited to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

     The statement added:   ”It is noteworthy to state that:

     ”The net balance in the said four accounts is below one third of the falsely quoted $31.7million dollars. We challenge EFCC to provide documents showing otherwise and linked to Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

     ”Hon. Dudafa and the bank managers named earlier have all in writing informed the EFCC that the said balances in the said accounts belong to Mrs. Patience Jonathan but the EFCC rather than act on those credible sources of information decided to orchestrate a mechanism to forcefully seize the monies belonging to her without any iota of evidence that the said sums were proceeds of “economic crime” at all.

    She said she was yet to get a copy of the no debit/freezing order issued by the EFCC on the accounts.

    The statement said: “Both EFCC and Skye Bank Plc have, despite repeated requests failed, neglected and/ or refused to avail the lawyers to Mrs. Patience Jonathan copy of the no debit/freezing order issued by the EFCC on the said accounts

    “On 3rd August, 2016, the lawyers of Mrs. Jonathan approached the EFCC Zonal Office in Lagos and met with the head of STF investigation, Mr. Orji Chukwuma to protest on behalf of Mrs. Patience Jonathan who said who said he would get back to the lawyers but never did until date.

    “The Lawyers were therefore constrained to petition the Chairman, EFCC and the EFCC Zonal Head, Lagos on this issue vide a letter dated 10th August, 2016.

     ”Rather than EFCC to respond to the valid and plausible complaints of the lawyers, they resorted to intimidating, torturing and forcing the Hon. Dudafa, Demola Bolodeoku and Dipo Oshodi amongst others to cajole them to make statements incriminating Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

    “The EFCC also called the Skye Bank officials restraining them from communicating with the lawyers or giving them documents all in a bid to rope in Mrs. Patience Jonathan.”

    The ex-First Lady gave the details of the circumstances which forced her to sue EFCC.

    She said: “Finally, the EFCC resorted to taking fast and surreptitious steps to get the Federal High Court where the criminal case Charge no: FHC/337C/16 is pending to get a final order to confiscate the funds in the said accounts without any notification to Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

    “The attempt has failed three times that the case came up with the EFCC clearly unable to prove its case or open same.

     ”It was in the above circumstances and left with no other option, and to protect her legal rights under the Constitution that Mrs. Patience Jonathan was constrained to file a suit in the Federal High Court.

    “It was the failure of the EFCC to obtain the forfeiture order on the last date at the Federal High Court sitting which was on the 8th august, 2016 that the heavens were let loose, leading to EFCC orchestrating the aforementioned false and malicious publications against the person of Mrs. Patience Jonathan, unleashing so much vendetta; vindictiveness and carefully planned rehearsed act of witch-hunt against her.”

    Mrs. Patience Jonathan likened her investigation by the EFCC to Nuremberg trial

     ”It remains to wonder aloud the following pertinent questions:

    • Is every wife of a successful politician being investigated for her lifestyle in respect of funds in her private accounts?
    • Is there a complaint and if so from who as to the funds in the accounts which Skye Bank has confirmed solely belongs to Mrs. Patience Jonathan?
    • Why is EFCC hell bent on intimidating and molesting witnesses including bank officials, to rope in Mrs. Patience Jonathan in this criminal matter that has nothing to do with her?
    • Is EFCC now involved in investigation that is similar to that at the Nuremberg trial where everyone arrested by them is presumed guilty until the person proves the contrary?
    • Can EFCC who by its actions have turned prosecutorial against Mrs. Patience Jonathan be trusted to still give her fair hearing?

    “In the light of the foregoing, it is important to emphasise that EFCC needs to desist from media trial of innocent citizens before trial.

    “We commend EFCC to adhere to this immutable advice by Hon. Leo Ogor, the distinguished Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

    “ We are fortified in this view by the recent statement of the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, that in the pursuit of the anti-corruption war, the rule of law must be followed and respect for human rights to be adhered to, for it is a truism that no man should be condemned unheard.

     ”We are making this statement to put the facts of this matter in proper perspective and Her Excellency Mrs. Patience Ibifaka Jonathan will not make any further statements on this issue as a law abiding citizen since the issues have been turned over to the courts for adjudication, and the matter is subjudice.”