Court Fixes July 12 To Hear Patience Jonathan’s Appeal

The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Wednesday fixed July 12
to hear an appeal filed by the wife of former President Goodluck
Jonathan, Patience, seeking to stop the forfeiture of a sum of
$5.7million and N2,421,953,522.78 to the Federal Government.

The appeal arose from an order obtained by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last April 26, from the Federal
High Court in Lagos, temporarily forfeiting the cash to the
government.

The commission told Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, who made the
order, that the funds were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful
activities.

It also said the N5.7m was part of the sum of $6.7m (about
N2.1billion) which Mrs Jonathan allegedly directed her aides to pay
into her account between February 8, 2013 and January 30, 2015,
while her husband was President.

Justice Olatoregun also ordered the temporary forfeiture of
another N2,421,953,522.78 found in an Ecobank Nigeria Ltd account
in the name of La Wari Furniture and Baths Ltd. The commission said
the money also belongs to Mrs Jonathan.

In May, Justice Olatoregun suspended proceedings in the hearing
of the EFCC’s application seeking permanent forfeiture of the cash
pending the appeal court’s decision on the interim order.

She granted the applications of Mrs Jonathan’s lawyer, Chief
Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and that of Counsel for La Wari Furniture and
Baths, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) for a stay of the proceedings.

In the notice of appeal, Mrs Jonathan, wants the court to hold
that the law cited by the EFCC in its ex-parte application for the
temporary forfeiture was not relevant.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Wednesday fixed July 12
to hear an appeal filed by the wife of former President Goodluck
Jonathan, Patience, seeking to stop the forfeiture of a sum of
$5.7million and N2,421,953,522.78 to the Federal
Government.

The appeal arose from an order obtained by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last April 26, from the Federal
High Court in Lagos, temporarily forfeiting the cash to the
government.

The commission told Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, who made the
order, that the funds were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful
activities.

It also said the N5.7m was part of the sum of $6.7m (about
N2.1billion) which Mrs Jonathan allegedly directed her aides to pay
into her account between February 8, 2013 and January 30, 2015,
while her husband was President.

Justice Olatoregun also ordered the temporary forfeiture of
another N2,421,953,522.78 found in an Ecobank Nigeria Ltd account
in the name of La Wari Furniture and Baths Ltd. The commission said
the money also belongs to Mrs Jonathan.

In May, Justice Olatoregun suspended proceedings in the hearing
of the EFCC’s application seeking permanent forfeiture of the cash
pending the appeal court’s decision on the interim order.

She granted the applications of Mrs Jonathan’s lawyer, Chief
Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and that of Counsel for La Wari Furniture and
Baths, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) for a stay of the proceedings.

In the notice of appeal, Mrs Jonathan, wants the court to hold
that the law cited by the EFCC in its ex-parte application for the
temporary forfeiture was not relevant.