How 31 suspects put $11.4m in Jonathan’s wife’s account

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‘$41,438 blown in one-day shopping’

Ex-First Lady to EFCC: let’s settle

THE DEPOSITORS

Festus Iyoha
Ocheche Emmanuel
Philemon Buoro
Festus Isidahomen
Felicia Apatake
Patricia Okogun
Buoro Ojo
Stella Wasiu
Amaka Adebayo
Segun Moses
Jimoh Peter
Ahmed Musa
Ibrahim Musa
Dame P. Jonathan
Ayemere Sunday
Eneji A.P
Johnson Ojo
Mary Buoro
Jude Bosede
Festus Iyoha
Jimoh Moses
Ahmed Musa
Germaine
Dudafa
Germani
Ade Suleiman
Mohammed Adamu
Francis Muhd
Kunle Peter
Suleiman Ade
Jonathan Patience
Former First Lady Mrs Patience Jonathan is a shopping freak – going
by facts and figures unveiled by detectives.

She blew thousands of dollars at highbrow stores. The cash came
from $11,849,069.03, which the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) said 31 individuals and companies paid into her
two domiciliary accounts.

The accounts, which are Skye Bank (2110001712) and First Bank
(2022648664) had “questionable deposits” between 2013 and 2017.

The Skye Bank account had about $7,452,319.32 lodged in it.
Detectives found $4,036,750.00 in the second account with First
Bank.

The ex-First Lady allegedly spent the cash at TFS stores,
Selfridges, John Lewis, Kingsgate, Sainsbury’s, Harrods, Marks and
Spencer, Dolce and Gabbana, and Gina.

She went on a shopping spree in expensive outlets in the United
States, Britain, Germany, Hong Kong, UAE, Italy and China.

The highest shopping was at Goyard Beijing in Beijing CN on
January 28, 2014 where Mrs. Jonathan shelled out $28,388.72.

On the same day at Hulian Xinguang Beijing CN, she blew $13,
069.68 on some luxury items.

There were transactions traced to Oakham School, Natwest Bank
and $26, 228. 18 spent at Hotel Nassaeur HOF Wishbaden DE on
November 20, 2015.

Perhaps overwhelmed by the EFCC probe and its likely
consequences, the ex-First Lady has applied for an out-of-court
settlement with the EFCC.

In “a major breakthrough by EFCC with international
collaboration” detectives found that about $7,452,319.32 suspicious
funds were deposited in the ex-First Lady’s account with number
2110001712 between 8th February 2013 and 7th April 2015.

The account was opened on September 12, 2013 by a former Special
Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
Hon. Dudafa Waripamo Owei depositing $1,948,400.00.

About 23 other individuals, including the ex-First Lady
allegedly deposited cash into the account as follows: Festus Iyoha
($287,100.000); Ocheche Emmanuel ($150,000); Philemon Buoro
($150,000); Festus Isidahomen ($100,000); Felicia Apatake
($148,900); Patricia Okogun ($ 99,700); Buoro Ojo ($400,000);
Stella Wasiu ($250,000); Amaka Adebayo ($250,000); Segun Moses
($249,400); Jimoh Peter ($246,700); Ahmed Musa ($196,400); Ibrahim
Musa($198,300); Dame P. Jonathan ($100,000); Ayemere Sunday ($
250,000); Eneji A.P ($300,000); Johnson Ojo ($300,000); Mary Buoro
($400,000); Jude Bosede ($500,000); Festus Iyoha ($400,000); Jimoh
Moses ($400,000) and Ahmed Musa ($100,000).

“The balance in this account as at 9th September 2016 was about
$5,831,173.55,” the EFCC said.

The second account was opened on February 22, 2013 at First
Bank.

Cash deposits were made into the account between 26th February
2013 and 30th April, 2017 which altogether was $4,036,750.

Apart from the ex-First Lady who deposited $2,037,650 in nine
tranches, other lodgments ranged from $98,900 to $400,000.

The former SA Domestic, Dudafa Waripamo Owei, led the pack of
depositors on 27th February 2013 with a deposit of $400,000. Other
depositors are: Germaine ($100,000); Dudafa ($400,000); Germani
($200,000); Ade Suleiman ($200,000); Mohammed Adamu ($300,000);
Francis Muhd ($300,000); Kunle Peter ($200,000); Suleiman Ade
($299,900,00) and Jonathan Patience ($2,037,650).

“Detectives traced the transactions pattern placed the card
holder in various countries to United States, Great Britain,
Germany, Hong Kong, UAE and Italy.

The card was allegedly used in highbrow shops, such as Marks and
Spencer, Kingsgate, Natwest Bank, Gina stores and Harrods.

“ The balance in this account as at 9th September 2016 was
$3,691,145.48.”

A source in EFCC said: “We have gone far in our investigation of
the ex-First Lady to prove that it is not a case of witch-hunt in
any manner whatsoever. We are already trying to verify the names of
the depositors if they really existed or they are fake.

“ Since we have uncovered all these suspicious deposits, we only
need her to account in court on how she came about them. Our crack
teams worked day and night to trace these funds.

“With international collaboration, there is no hiding place for
Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) because some of these malls
sometimes report suspicious transactions or spending. They
marvelled at where top Nigerian political office holders and their
spouses got the cash being lavished.”

The former First Lady, however, seems to be tired of litigation
over her fortune. In a January 30, 2018 letter, titled “Proposal
for out-of-Court Settlement of all cases related to Dame (Mrs.)
Ibifaka Patience Jonathan,” she told the EFCC of her intention to
settle the matter.

The letter, which was written by her counsel, Chief Ifedayo
Adedipe (SAN), is being considered by the EFCC.

The letter said: “As senior counsel, representing Dame (Mrs.)
Patience Jonathan (former First Lady) and companies linked to her
and some family members, associates, companies and NGOs, we have
thought it fit to engage your commission in a discussion over all
issues involving her and the commission with a view to having
amicable resolution of all cases as stated above.

“This will enable both sides create an atmosphere for mutual
understanding and peaceful coexistence. We will therefore
appreciate it, if you can give us an appointment at your earliest
convenience to have a discussion over all matters involving her and
members of her family.

“We believe that an amicable settlement will be in the best
interest of both your commission and our client.

“We assure you of our utmost commitment and sincerity of purpose
in this connection, and we solicit your cooperation in this regard.
Please, accept the assurances of our warm regards.”

Another EFCC source said: “We have received a letter from the
ex-First Lady, we are studying it on whether or not to accept the
out-of-court settlement or allow justice to take its course.”

Apart from the cash, the ex-First Lady is linked to 12 choice
properties and a plot of land on which a building is being
built.

The investigative team had recommended that Section 7 of the
EFCC Establishment Act 2004 be invoked on the properties after due
verification.

The assets linked to Mrs. Jonathan in Port Harcourt are: Former
Customs Service officers mess; two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street;
landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; 3 Luxury apartments
of 4-bedroom each at Ambowei Street; and Grand View Hotel along
airport road.

In Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, are two marble duplexes
at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway; Glass House along Sani
Abacha Expressway which is housing Nigerian Content Development and
Monitoring Board; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP filling Station, Melford
Okilo Road; and Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa on Sani Abacha
Expressway.