A Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on Monday adjourned
till February 14 to hear a motion in a suit seeking forfeiture of
funds linked to former first lady, Patience Jonathan.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had begun
fresh moves to seize the funds, including $6.4 million and N7.4
billion, in 15 bank accounts linked to Mrs. Jonathan.
The suit, which was fixed for hearing on Monday, was stalled
following the absence of the judge, Mojisola Olatoregun, who was
said to be attending a workshop.
Consequently, the case was adjourned until February 14 for
hearing.
In two previous adjournments, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo,
had appeared before Mrs. Olatoregun seeking to move an ex parte
application for a temporary forfeiture of the said funds.
The move was, however, interrupted by Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer,
Ifedayo Adedipe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who challenged the
court’s jurisdiction to entertain the ex parte application.
He had told the court that the funds on which the EFCC seeks a
forfeiture order were already subject of a pending litigation.
But Mr. Oyedepo maintained that Mr. Adedipe had no right of
audience in the court, since his application was ex parte (without
notice to other parties).
He argued that he wondered how the senior lawyer got wind of the
application by the anti-graft agency in the first place, and urged
the court to disregard his appearance.
The court upheld Mr. Oyedepo’s submission.
The judge then adjourned the suit and directed the EFCC to file
an affidavit to convince the court that there were no pending suits
in relation to the same subject matter before the court.
In the said ex parte application, the EFCC listed Mrs. Jonathan
and one Esther Oba as respondents.
Also listed as defendants were: Globus Integrated Services Ltd.,
Finchley Top Homes Ltd., Am-Pm Global Network Ltd., Pagmat Oil And
Gas Ltd. and Magel Resort Ltd.
The ex parte application is supported by a 15-paragraph
affidavit deposed to by an investigator with the EFCC, Huleji
Tukura.
A Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on Monday adjourned
till February 14 to hear a motion in a suit seeking forfeiture of
funds linked to former first lady, Patience Jonathan.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had begun
fresh moves to seize the funds, including $6.4 million and N7.4
billion, in 15 bank accounts linked to Mrs. Jonathan.
The suit, which was fixed for hearing on Monday, was stalled
following the absence of the judge, Mojisola Olatoregun, who was
said to be attending a workshop.
Consequently, the case was adjourned until February 14 for
hearing.
In two previous adjournments, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo,
had appeared before Mrs. Olatoregun seeking to move an ex parte
application for a temporary forfeiture of the said funds.
The move was, however, interrupted by Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer,
Ifedayo Adedipe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who challenged the
court’s jurisdiction to entertain the ex parte application.
He had told the court that the funds on which the EFCC seeks a
forfeiture order were already subject of a pending litigation.
But Mr. Oyedepo maintained that Mr. Adedipe had no right of
audience in the court, since his application was ex parte (without
notice to other parties).
He argued that he wondered how the senior lawyer got wind of the
application by the anti-graft agency in the first place, and urged
the court to disregard his appearance.
The court upheld Mr. Oyedepo’s submission.
The judge then adjourned the suit and directed the EFCC to file
an affidavit to convince the court that there were no pending suits
in relation to the same subject matter before the court.
In the said ex parte application, the EFCC listed Mrs. Jonathan
and one Esther Oba as respondents.
Also listed as defendants were: Globus Integrated Services Ltd.,
Finchley Top Homes Ltd., Am-Pm Global Network Ltd., Pagmat Oil And
Gas Ltd. and Magel Resort Ltd.
The ex parte application is supported by a 15-paragraph
affidavit deposed to by an investigator with the EFCC, Huleji
Tukura.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/judges-absence-stalls-suit-seeking-forfeiture-of-patience-jonathans-money/