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Tag: Patience Jonathan

  • Jonathan, wife, Mrs. Atiku at Rivers PDP rally

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan and wife Dame Patience Jonathan on Monday graced the presidential campaign rally of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.

    The Jonathans were at the occasion in the company of wife of the presidential candidate of the PDP Dr. (Mrs.) Jennifer Douglas Abubakar and wife of the President of the Senate, Dr. (Mrs.) Toyin Saraki.

    Addressing the mammoth crowd, wife of the PDP candidate, Mrs. Abubakar, urged women across the state to mobilise their entire household for victory for PDP on Saturday.

    Mrs. Abubakar, who spoke on behalf of women, advised them to protect their votes and ensure they are counted.

    She stressed the need to vote out the ‘incompetent’ government of APC, which according to her, “represents hunger, insecurity, economic hardship” and all manner of vices.

    She assured women that the Atiku administration will not relegate them but will give them a level playing ground to unleash their potential.

    “A vote for Atiku is a vote for a better Nigeria,” she said.

    On his part, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate vowed to uphold the rule of law and protect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Dr Patience Jonathan and Dr Jennifer Douglas Abubakar

    “I assure you that I will protect the constitution, protect separation of powers and will not interfere with the National Assembly and Judiciary because I believe in checks and balances.

    “My administration will uphold rule of law and will never allow the rule of law to be trampled by anybody,” he pledged.

    The PDP candidate also promised to complete the long-abandoned East-West road and complete the dredging of old Port Harcourt and Onne sea ports, ” to create more job opportunities”.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan who was also in attendance declared that Nigerians are working hard for the election of Atiku Abubakar, because they believe he has the capacity to make Nigeria work again.

     

    NAN

  • Patience Jonathan’s ally Shagaya’s account lawfully frozen, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that it lawfully froze the account of a businesswoman and socialite, Hajiya Bola Shagaya.

    It prayed the court to dismiss her application seeking to unfreeze it.

    Besides, EFCC said Shagaya, an ally of ex-First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, allegedly frustrated its efforts to conclude investigations on a suspicious Unity Bank account with a balance of over N1.9billion.

    The commission said it invited the woman but she refused to honour it.

    This, EFCC said, made it difficult “to conclude investigation and file a charge against her.”

    An operative, Oghare Ogbole, in a counter-affidavit opposing Shagaya’s suit, justified the No Debit Order placed on the account.

    Justice Muslim Hassan made the interim freezing order on December 29, 2016.

    The businesswoman filed an application urging the judge to vacate it.

    She said she was denied fair hearing.

    But, EFCC claimed that the N1.9billion found in the Unity Bank account was the balance of a total of N3,305,150,000, which Shagaya received as “founder fees” on behalf of an organisation, “Women for Change” being spearheaded by Mrs Jonathan.

    The EFCC claimed that the N3.3billion was realised through Shagaya’s “fraudulent activities in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,” where she allegedly “influenced the fraudulent allocation of Dual Purpose kerosene to Index Petrolube Africa Ltd., with the aid of the former First Lady, Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan.”

    According to the EFCC, the N3.3billion was paid by Index Petrolube Africa Ltd and its sister company, Autodex Nigeria Limited.

    The two companies, it said, belong to one Honourable Ezeani ThankGod, adding that the reason for the N3.3bn payment was to “fraudulently facilitate Dual Purpose Kerosene to ThankGod’s company, Index Petrolube Africa Ltd.”

    The anti-graft agency claimed that out of the N3.3bn, Shagaya had “paid a cumulative sum of N1,212,000,000 to the former First Lady, Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan, through her account, ‘Women for Change Initiative’ account domiciled in Diamond Bank, to which the former First Lady is the sole signatory.”

    It said after paying N1.2billion to Patience, Shagaya kept the balance of N1.9bn for herself by “warehousing” same in her personal bank account in Unity Bank.

    The EFCC said it was on this basis that it secured an order of Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos on December 29, 2016 to freeze the account.

  • Patience Jonathan ‘proves’ source of $8.4m, N7.4b with videos

    FORMER First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan’s lawyers yesterday played five videos to prove the source of $8.4 million and N7.4 billion, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeks to forfeit to the Federal Government.

    The videos were projected before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The judge had last April 20 ordered temporary forfeiture of the funds, which EFCC said were suspected to be proceeds of crime.

    Mrs. Jonathan, Globus Integrated Services Ltd, Finchley Top Homes Ltd., Am-Pm Global Network Ltd, Pagmat Oil and Gas Ltd and Magel Resort Ltd and Esther Oba are the respondents.

    Among the temporarily forfeited sums are N1.085 billion and N226.3 million found in Finchley’s Ecobank account and N39.4 million found in its Diamond Bank account, as well as N55.9 million found in Pagmat Oil and Gas’ Diamond Bank account, among others.

    EFCC’s counsel Rotimi Oyedepo had urged the court to order the money’s final forfeiture to the Federal Government.

    But, Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) opposed the application.

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    He urged the court to refuse it on the basis that sufficient facts were not placed before the court to warrant a final forfeiture order.

    The SAN argued that Mrs. Jonathan was neither invited by the commission to explain the sources of the funds nor was she charged with any offence.

    Adedipe contended that the depositions by the applicant that the funds represented proceeds of unlawful activities were not substantiated.

    The companies’ counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), argued that going by the provisions of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, EFCC’s motion for final forfeiture was premature.

    He argued that it was only when the companies’ affidavits to show cause are argued, and the court finds no merit in them, that the final forfeiture application could be justified.

    According to him, his clients filed affidavits to show cause, adding that one of the companies exhibited its certificate of incorporation, its board resolution that Patience Jonathan be made a signatory to it, and bank documents showing its account are signed by other persons who are also signatories.

    Besides, Ozekhome told the court that one of the companies makes money from selling items such as groceries, drinks, lighting, among others, adding that there was a video clip exhibit of various outfits legitimately run by the company.

    The first video, which lasted 25 minutes, showed business outlets and products of Finchley Homes Ltd. They include interior and exterior home decorations, household utensils, textiles, drinks, noodles, furniture, a warehouse, as well as various pickup vans said to belong to the company.

    The second video clip, which ran for four minutes, showed the business outfit of the Otuoke, Bayelsa State based Magel Resort Ltd, which comprised a luxurious hotel equipped IT centres.

    Adedipe also exhibited three videos showing activities of the Women for Change Initiative, a non-governmental organisation linked to Mrs. Jonathan.

    The first 10-minute video showed the flag off of the initiative’s campaign.

    It was followed by another 10-minute clip showing aspects of the initiative’s empowerment of women through the distribution of food items.

    The final video of seven minutes duration showed Mrs. Jonathan visiting Katsina State for the initiative’s flag-off.

    The hearing continues today.

     

     

  • Kinsmen accuse Jonathan, wife of anti-party activities

     

     

    Kinsmen of former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday insisted he and his wife, Patience, were working against candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming elections in Bayelsa State.

    The kinsmen under the auspices of the Ogbia Renaissance (OR) said the recent report in The Nation was a vindication of their position the former president was in a surreptitious plot to subvert his political party for selfish considerations.

    The Chairman, OR, Obhioru Mitanoni, said Jonathan, his wife, A.J Turner and other PDP chieftains were committing brazen anti- party activities ahead of the forthcoming legislative elections in the state.

    Mitanoni said the action of the former President was what pitched him against Governor, Seriake Dickson and top leaders of the PDP in the state.

    He explained Jonathan was backing a former Chief of Staff, Samuel Ogboku of the APC for House of Representatives and Senator Nimi Amange who defected to the ADC to contest the Bayelsa East senatorial election.

    He said the former President opted to support candidates of other parties because his candidates in the PDP failed to win the last party’s primaries.

    Mitanoni said it was sad the former President took the display of political pettiness to a disgusting low unbefitting of his status as a former President of the country and national leader of the PDP.

    He said Jonathan was acting against his status by venturing into the fray of deciding who became the councilor, local government chairman, house of Assembly member, in his native Ogbia in a shocking departure from the standard norm.

    Mitanoni said rather than playing the role of a statesman at the national and international level like Obasanjo and Abdusalami, Jonathan would rather opt to demonstrate his lack of capacity for inclusive leadership which had tied his followers across Nigeria, the Niger Delta and Ogbia to regrets and lamentations.

    He called on the Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, to take urgent steps to avert an impending disaster threatening the electoral fortunes of the PDP in the next election.

    According to him, Jonathan was backing Cleric Awudum, (Accord Party) against the PDP candidate, Munaleyefa Gibson, in Ogbia Constituency 2; Gabriel Ogbara of ADC against the PDP candidate Naomi Ogoli for Constituency 3 and the House of Representatives in Ogbia, Samuel Ogbuku (APC) a former Chief of Staff to former Governor Timipre Sylva, against Fred Obua thé PDP candidate.

    He said it was even shocking that one of the PDP candidates being frustrated and rejected by Jonathan for another party’s candidate is a younger brother to his late Chief Security Officer (CSO), Gordon Obua.

    He alleged further with the withdrawal of Senator Ben Bruce of the Bayelsa East Senatorial Zone (Jonathan’s Senatorial District) in honour of a subsisting zoning arrangement, Jonathan and King AJ Turner were surreptitiously supporting Nimi Amange Barigha of ADC against the PDP Candidate, Chief Blessing Ipigansi Izagara.

    According to him, the only offence of Izagara, a long- time friend of Jonathan and Turner, was his perceived loyalty and closeness to Governor Dickson.

    He said that the former President opted to pitch their tent with Barigha who defected to the ADC when their preferred candidate, a female associate of AJ Turner lost the senatorial ticket to Izagara.

    He said: “Jonathan, his wife Patience and A.J Turner’s brand of petty, self-centered brand of politics in Ogbia is a mockery and cruel slap on the enviable track record of late Senator Melford Okilo and other notable founding fathers and leaders in Ogbia land who fought hard to raise the profile of the Ogbia Kingdom.

    “Their selfish brand of politics has left Ogbia completely desolate, abandoned and rudderless. Ogbia that was once the pride and envy of the old Rivers State and Niger Delta is now a land begging for attention with the bulk of her people feeding from the crumbs that has fallen off the dining table of some self-glorifying leaders with no sense of mission.”

    Mitanoni said that Jonathan and his cohorts were deliberately undermining the governor because of a non-existent struggle to raise a successor for him in 2020.

    But the media aide to the ex-President, Ikechukwu Eze, said it was untrue his boss was engaged in anti-party activities.

    He said: “It is manifestly dishonest, deceitful and preposterous for anybody to suggest that former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is working against the interest of the party under which he rose to occupy the highest office in the land.

    “As one of the leaders of the party, having served as President under the Peoples Democratic Party, it is obvious that Dr. Jonathan has continued and will continue to work for the success of PDP across the nation.

    “He is also a father figure and a statesman whose door is open to all Nigerians desirous of visiting or consulting him on sundry matters, including politics.

    ” Even then he has always given his support and blessing to his party’s candidates in all elections.

    “Those who also push the narrative of a war between him and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson are either adept at conjuring up a rift where there is none or are lovers of mischief who do not have the interest of Bayelsa State at heart.”

     

  • Patience Jonathan’s $15.5m: Court rejects guilty plea reversal

    THE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday dismissed an application for a plea reversal by four companies that pleaded guilty to laundering $15.5 million allegedly belonging to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

    The firms prayed the court to nullify previous proceedings in their trial because those who represented them were not authorised to do so.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them with a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to President Jonathan, Dr. Waripamo Dudafa; a lawyer Amajuoyi Briggs, who is the companies’ secretary, and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku.

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

    The companies’ lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) told Justice Babs Kuewumi that his clients were not given a fair trial before their conviction because they had no legal representation of their choice.

    Ozekhome said he was briefed to represent the companies after its directors pleaded guilty despite not being authorised by the board to do so.

    Moving his motion seeking to set aside the companies conviction, Ozekhome said they were convicted “in gross violation” of the 1999 Constitution, which he said occasioned a miscarriage of justice.

    He prayed that the trial be done de novo (afresh) and that the previous proceedings be declared null, void and unsustainable in law.

    Besides, Ozekhome said the companies were denied the right to cross-examine the directors, who purportedly pleaded guilty.

    “They’re just busybodies and interlopers, who were pressured to come and plead guilty. They had no mandate to do so,” he said.

    But, prosecuting counsel Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo urged the court to refuse the application for being an abuse of court process.

    He said the prayers amounted to asking the judge to revisit his ruling and to assume the position of an appellate court.

    Oyedepo denied that the directors, who pleaded guilty were not authorised, saying there was evidence from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and from the companies’ bank accounts that they were indeed directors.

    Ruling yesterday, Justice Kuewumi held that a judge can only revisit his rulings and judgments in exceptional cases of “serious procedural irregularity” or lack of jurisdiction.

    “The main issue to be addressed in this application is whether this court can revisit its earlier decision, whereby the applicants were convicted. Once a court gives an order or judgment, it has no legal competence to reverse itself or set aside its previous order.

    “Considering the circumstances of this case, I have not been shown any valid reason to make me revisit my decision. This court is already functus officio (without authority over the subject-matter).

    “I’m in agreement with the prosecution that this application is incompetent. It is hereby refused and accordingly dismissed,” Justice Kuewumi held.

    He adjourned until October 17 for trial.

     

  • Court refuses order to unfreeze N1.9b linked to Patience Jonathan

    THE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday refused to discharge an interim order freezing N1.9 billion, which was allegedly obtained fraudulently by a businesswoman, Hajiya Bola Shagaya.

    Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) validly obtained the order.

    Shagaya had urged the court to grant her access to her account, which had been frozen since December 29, 2016.

    Through her lawyer, Mr. Napoleon Emeaso-Nwachukwu, she claimed she was not given fair hearing before Justice Muslim Hassan of the same court, who made the freezing order.

    She urged Justice Oguntoyinbo to declare the freezing order unconstitutional, null and void “as same violates the applicant’s right to own movable property as guaranteed by Section 44(1) (k) of the I999 Constitution of Nigeria”.

    But, EFCC argued that Justice Oguntoyinbo lacked the power to sit as an appellate court over Justice Hassan’s decision, describing Shagaya’s originating summons as an abuse of court processes.

    It accused Shagaya of filing the suit “so as to impede the proper dispensation of justice and thus avoiding criminal investigation and possible prosecution”.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that the N1.9 billion was the balance of N3,305,150,000, which Shagaya allegedly received as “founder fees” on behalf of an organisation, “Women for Change”, being spearheaded by former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

    The EFCC claimed that the N3.3 billion was realised through Shagaya’s “fraudulent activities in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),” where she allegedly “influenced the fraudulent allocation of Dual Purpose Kerosene to Index Petrolube Africa Ltd., with the aid of the former First Lady, Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan.”

    According to the EFCC, the N3.3 billion was paid by Index Petrolube Africa Ltd and its sister company, Autodex Nigeria Ltd.

    The two companies, it said, belong to one Honourable Ezeani ThankGod, adding that the reason for the N3.3 billion payment was to “fraudulently facilitate Dual Purpose Kerosene to ThankGod’s company, Index Petrolube Africa Ltd”.

    The EFCC said it secured an order by Justice Hassan on December 29, 2016, to freeze the account pending the conclusion of its investigation.

    The anti-graft agency said the applicant would “use this honourable court as a shield against criminal investigation and prosecution”, if the application was granted.

    In her verdict yesterday, Justice Oguntoyinbo faulted Shagaya’s claims she was not given the opportunity to defend herself.

    “The interim order was made based on an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC. An ex-parte application has no respondent and the court is not expected to hear from the other party.

    The judge, therefore, held that Shagaya’s application lacked merit and dismissed it.

     

     

  • EFCC gets fresh order to seize Patience Jonathan’s N7.3b, $8.4m 

    he Federal High Court in Lagos Division has ordered a temporary forfeiture of N7.3billion and $8.4million allegedly belonging to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.
    Justice Mojisola Olateregun made the order based on a fresh application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    A copy of the order made on April 20 was obtained yesterday.
    The judge had on April 13 struck out an ex-parte application seeking the money’s forfeiture on the basis that a similar suit was pending in another court.
    However, EFCC returned with another ex-parte application for temporary forfeiture.
    The money is said to be in Skye Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank and First Bank Plc.
    Justice Olatoregun directed EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper within 14 days, adding that the respondents should be served.
    Mrs Jonathan, Esther Oba, Globus Integrated Services Limited, Finchley Top Homes Limited, AM-PM Global Network Limited, Pagmat Oil and Gas Limited and Magel Resort Limited are the respondents.
    In a supporting affidavit, an EFCC investigator Huleji Tukura said the money was allegedly moved from Bayelsa State when Mrs Jonathan was a permanent secretary.
    He said Mrs. Jonathan first opened a First Bank account and then “procured” former Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, to fund the account with “proceeds of unlawful activities.”
    “The said Dudafa Waripamo-Owei procured one Festus Isidohomen Iyoha and Arivi Eneji Peter, who were domestic staff attached to the State House, Abuja, to deposit the funds, reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, in to account of the first respondent.
    “The said domestic staff, in a bid to conceal their identity, deposited the funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful act using fictitious names.
    “The total sum of $4,036,750.00 reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities were deposited into account No. 2022648664 domiciled in First Bank Plc in the name of the first respondent.
    “On the 28th day of September, 2016, the first respondent, in dissipating the property sought to be forfeited, transferred the sum of $3,640,794.72 to the first respondent’s account No. 2031277178 domiciled in First Bank Plc.
    “On the 5th day of October, 2016, the first respondent withdrew the sum of $1,000,000.00 cash from the said account leaving the balance of the sum of $3,645,013.73…
    “As at the time the various sums were deposited, the first respondent was a serving permanent secretary in the employment of the Bayelsa State Government.
    “The funds sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria are not the first respondent’s lawful earnings but are rather reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” the deponent said.
    Tukura said the companies were not into “any legitimate income-yielding business venture” but were incorporated for the purpose of warehousing proceeds of unlawful activities for the former First Lady.
    “The depositors into this account are domestic staff of State House, Abuja, who was procured by the said Dudafa Waripamo-Owei to deposit the funds sought to be forfeited in a bid to conceal the true origin of the funds,” Tukura said.
    EFCC said none of the directors of Globus Integrated Services Ltd, for instance, we’re signatories its account.
    The commission said an account numbered 2110002269 was opened with Skye Bank and others with Diamond Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC solely to retain funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
    “Account No. 0016971559 was opened in the name of the fourth respondent (AM-PM Global Network Limited) with Stanbic IBTC and was used to warehouse N317, 397, 458 .26 reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” the deponent said.
    Justice Olatoregun adjourned until May 11.

  • EFCC gets fresh order forfeiting Patience Jonathan’s N7.3b, $8.4m

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Division has ordered a temporary forfeiture of N7.3billion and $8.4million allegedly belonging to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

    Justice Mojisola Olateregun made the order based on a fresh application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    A copy of the order made on April 20 was obtained on Tuesday.

    The judge had on April 13 struck out an ex-parte application seeking the money’s forfeiture on the basis that a similar suit was pending in another court.

    However, EFCC returned with another ex-parte application for temporary forfeiture.

    The money is said to be in Skye Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank and First Bank Plc.

    Justice Olatoregun directed EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper within 14 days, adding that the respondents should be served.

    Mrs Jonathan, Esther Oba, Globus Integrated Services Limited, Finchley Top Homes Limited, AM-PM Global Network Limited, Pagmat Oil and Gas Limited and Magel Resort Limited are the respondents.

    In a supporting affidavit, an EFCC investigator Huleji Tukura said the money was allegedly moved from Bayelsa State when Mrs Jonathan was a permanent secretary.

    He said Mrs. Jonathan first opened a First Bank account and then “procured” former Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, to fund the account with “proceeds of unlawful activities.”

    “The said Dudafa Waripamo-Owei procured one Festus Isidohomen Iyoha and Arivi Eneji Peter, who were domestic staff attached to the State House, Abuja, to deposit the funds, reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, in to account of the first respondent.

    “The said domestic staff, in a bid to conceal their identity, deposited the funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful act using fictitious names.

    “The total sum of $4,036,750.00 reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities were deposited into account No. 2022648664 domiciled in First Bank Plc in the name of the first respondent.

    “On the 28th day of September, 2016, the first respondent, in dissipating the property sought to be forfeited, transferred the sum of $3,640,794.72 to the first respondent’s account No. 2031277178 domiciled in First Bank Plc.

    “On the 5th day of October, 2016, the first respondent withdrew the sum of $1,000,000.00 cash from the said account leaving the balance of the sum of $3,645,013.73…

    ”As at the time the various sums were deposited, the first respondent was a serving permanent secretary in the employment of the Bayelsa State Government.

    “The funds sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria are not the first respondent’s lawful earnings but are rather reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” the deponent said.

    Tukura said the companies were not into “any legitimate income-yielding business venture” but were incorporated for the purpose of warehousing proceeds of unlawful activities for the former First Lady.

    “The depositors into this account are domestic staff of State House, Abuja, who was procured by the said Dudafa Waripamo-Owei to deposit the funds sought to be forfeited in a bid to conceal the true origin of the funds,” Tukura said.

    EFCC said none of the directors of Globus Integrated Services Ltd, for instance, we’re signatories its account.

    The commission said an account numbered 2110002269 was opened with Skye Bank and others with Diamond Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC solely to retain funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

    “Account No. 0016971559 was opened in the name of the fourth respondent (AM-PM Global Network Limited) with Stanbic IBTC and was used to warehouse N317, 397, 458 .26 reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” the deponent said.

    Justice Olatoregun adjourned until May 11.

  • Court orders interim forfeiture of Patience Jonathan’s Abuja property

    AN Abuja Federal High Court has ordered the interim forfeiture of two buildings owned by former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a ruling yesterday, said the interim order granted based on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), shall last for 45 days.

    The judge added that this is subject to renewal upon application by the EFCC.

    The buildings are identified as: Plot No: 1960 Cadastral Zone A05, Maitama District and 1758 Cadastral Zone A00 Business District.

    They presently serve as the headquarters of two groups – A. Aruera Reachout Foundation/Women for Change and Development Initiative – linked with the ex-first lady.

    The judge also restrained the owners of the property from selling or mortgaging them while the forfeiture order lasts.

    Justice Dimgba said the orders were necessary to enable the EFCC conduct its investigation on the property.

    The judge said the applicant should, at the end of its investigation, file charges where the allegations against the respondents are established.

    He said: “I hereby accordingly grant reliefs 1 and 2 sought.  Relief 3 is refused, because it is not supported by the grounds of the application and thus unnecessary in the circumstances of the application.”

    The two reliefs granted are:

    *an order of interim attachment / forfeiture of the asset and property set out in the schedule attached herein. (Plot No. 1960 Cadastral Zone A05, Maitama District, Abuja; and Plot No. 1350, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja); and

    *an order stopping any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the property/asset described in the schedule herein.

    The third relief refused by the court related to EFCC’s request for permission to appoint either a firm or individuals to manage the property.

    The judge added: “The order of court granting the reliefs shall last only for a period of 45 days within which the applicant must conclude their investigation and file necessary criminal charges where investigation reveals the commission of a crime.

    “The applicant is at liberty to apply for a renewal of the order on cause, provided that such an application to be valid is made before the expiry of the 45 days validity period granted by the court.

    “Given the highly contentious nature of this application, I further order that where the applicant wishes to physically access the attached properties in execution of the order herein made, the applicant with the representatives of the respondent, shall take an inventory of all the contents and fixtures of the properties and shall file a report/result of such inventory to this court.”

    The judge dismissed the respondent’s objection to the suit.

    In dismissing the objection, the judge rejected the respondent’s argument that the suit was not properly commenced and that it was an abuse of court process.

    Lawyer to the respondent, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), while reacting to the court’s decision, said by the judgment, his client has lost nothing.

    “We did not lose, we won. What the EFCC wanted was for the property in dispute attached and forfeited to the government but the court refused and instead gave them 45 days to further investigate and prosecute, if they so wish with liberty to apply for renewal.

    “That is actually victory for us as the property was not forfeited,” Ozekhome said.

  • Court orders forfeiture of Patience Jonathan’s Abuja property

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of two buildings allegedly owned by former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a ruling on Monday said the interim order granted based on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), shall last for 45 days, but subject to renewal upon application by the EFCC.

    The property are identified as: Plot No: 1960 Cadastral Zone A05 Maitama District and 1758 Cadastral Zone A00 Business District, Abuja, located on Shehu Yar’Adua Way, along Mabushi-Kado Life Camp Expressway, Abuja.

    The property currently serve as the headquarters of two groups –  A. Aruera Reachout Foundation/Women For Change and Development Initiative – linked with the ex-First Lady.

    The judge also restrained the owners of the property from selling or mortgaging them while the forfeiture order lasts.

    Justice Dimgba said the orders were necessary to enable the EFCC conduct its investigation on the property.

    The said the applicant should, at the end of its investigation, file charges where the allegations against the respondents are established.

    The judge said: “I hereby accordingly grant reliefs 1 and 2 sought.  Relief 3 is refused, because it is not supported by the grounds of the application and thus unnecessary in the circumstances of the application.”

    The two reliefs granted are:

    *An order of interim attachment / forfeiture of the asset and property set out in the schedule attached herein. (Plot No. 1960 Cadastral Zone A05, MAitama District, Abuja; and Plot No. 1350, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja).

    *An order stopping any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the property/asset described in the schedule herein

    The third relief refused by the court related to EFCC’s request for permission to appoint either a firm or individuals to manage the property.

    The judge added: “The order of court granting the reliefs shall last only for a period of 45 days within which the applicant must conclude their investigation and file necessary criminal charges where investigation reveals the commission of a crime.

    “The applicant is at liberty to apply for a renewal of the order on cause, provided that such an application to be valid is made before the expiry of the 45 days validity period granted by the Court.

    “Given the highly contentious nature of this application, I further order that where the applicant wishes to physically access the attached properties in execution of the order herein made, the applicant with the representatives of the respondent, shall take an inventory of all the contents and fixtures of the properties and shall file a report/result of such inventory to this court.”

    The judge dismissed the respondent’s objection to the suit. In dismissing the objection, the judge rejected the respondent’s argument that the suit was not properly commenced and that it was an abuse of court process.

    Lawyer to the respondent, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), while reacting to  the court’s decision said by the judgment, his client has lost nothing.

    “We did not lose,we  won. What the EFCC wanted was for the property in dispute attached and forfeited to the government but the court refused and instead gave them 45 days to further investigate and prosecute if they so wish with liberty to apply for renewal.

    “That is actually victory for us as the property was not forfeited,” Ozekhome said.

    Read Also: Court grants interim forfeiture of Patience Jonathan’s property