SAN FRANCISCO, November 18, (THEWILL) – Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof Itse Sagay, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seek the forfeiture of the sum of $175,750,000 allegedly found in an account linked to former first lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan.
Sagay, speaking with Thisday, declared that Mrs Jonathan risked losing the $175m allegedly found in the account of a company linked to her except she was able to explain how it belongs to her saying should the former first lady fail to justify how she acquired the money, it would be forfeited to the Federal Government.
“It is a straight forward matter. If you found a sum of money like that and somebody claims it but cannot establish how he or she acquired it, even under some of the sections under the ICPC law, the person will forfeit it to the state,” he said.
“That has to be applied.
“If she was not able to explain how she was able to earn that money, how she earned it, then she will lose it.”
He advised the commission to trace the movement of the money after it was initially traced to an account said to belong to a company belonging to the former first lady adding that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is empowered to seize any funds suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The deposits were said to have been found in the account of Pluto Property and Investment Limited (PPIL), one of the firms allegedly linked to the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife.
PPIL was one of the four companies convicted by Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court, Abujà on November 2 for laundering the sum of $15.5 million, which the former First Lady insists belongs to her.
Others are Seagate Property Development & Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited.
However, the umbrella body of Jonathan’s kinsmen under the auspices of Ogbia Brotherhood warned the EFCC against further victimization of Jonathan’s family.
The President of Ogbia Brotherhood, Chief Benson Agadaga, asked the EFCC to leave Jonathan’s family alone, saying the former President and his wife deserved rest.
“We call on the EFCC and the present administration to tread with caution because the Niger Delta people are losing their patience on this hunting of our leaders,” he said
“We call for equal rights and equity.
“The former first family had been in public service as deputy governor, governor, vice-president and president for a long time.
“They have served the country for so long. They need rest and time for their children and family matters.”
Story by Oputah David
