SAN FRANCISCO, January 18, (THEWILL) – Placard-bearing women were seen at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday for the hearing of a suit filed by ex-first lady, Patience Jonathan, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking to unfreeze her account.
The suit, before Justice Mohammed Idris, is over the seizure of $15.591 (about N4.8billion) she claims belongs to her which the EFCC claimed was the proceed of crime and was allegedly laundered.
The inscriptions on some of the placards by the women read: “As you have frozen her account, you have also frozen the lives of millions of less privileged she helps;” “Injustice to one is injustice to all,” “Open her account because she’s not a criminal,” “Leave her alone, she is a woman of integrity”.
Others read: “Mama Peace has always been independent,” “the freezing of Mama Peace’ account is a witch-hunt,” “Treat her as you treat other first ladies,” “Women say no to intimidation”, “EFCC don’t be misled, why do you want to probe her?” and “Is she not a Nigerian?”
Also joined in the suit are Skye Bank Plc; a former Special Assistant to ex-President Jonathan, Waripama-Owei Dudafa; Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd; Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd; Transocean Property and Investment Company Ltd; and, Globus Integrated Service Ltd.
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, a lawyer Amajuoyi Briggs and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku, for laundering the money.
Unlike the companies, Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge.
Mrs. Jonathan is demanding $200 million from the commission as damages for infringing on her rights.
She also prayed the court to issue an order discharging the freezing order, as well as restrain the EFCC and its agents from further placing a freezing order on the said accounts.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyers, Ifedayo Adedipe, sought an adjournment to enable him serve his client’s amended claims on the companies.
He added that other defendants had been served with copies of the processes, while they have also served their counter-affidavits on the plaintiff.
In the absence of any objection from the EFCC counsel, Justice Idris adjourned till February 13 for hearing.
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