Court fixes April 30 for Patience Jonathan’s case

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, fixed April 30 to
rule on an application, seeking the forfeiture of two properties
belonging to Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck
Jonathan to the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on October.
20,2017 filed an ex parte application praying the court for an
order of interim forfeiture of some properties belonging to the
former First Lady.

This was with particular reference to the property at Plot No.
1758, Cadastral Zone, Mabushi and Plot No.1350, Cadastral Zone,
Central Business District, Abuja.

The EFCC through its counsel, Mr. Benjamin Mangi, told the court
that the application was predicated on the fact that the property
was a subject matter of investigation, enquiry and examination.

Mangi denied that the commission took part in the demolition of
part of the building as was being alleged by Jonathan, adding that
the suit before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, was different from the one
before Justice John Tsoho.

He prayed the court to refuse Jonathan’s application asking it
not to entertain the ex parte motion and to grant EFCC’s prayer for
forfeiture of the two properties pending investigations.

Jonathan’s lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed an application
seeking to stop the ex parte motion on the grounds that the
properties were already a subject matter of litigation.

He said that the EFCC had filed another suit in respect to the
same properties in the same Federal High Court, Abuja.

Ozekhome urged the court to condemn the action of the Federal
Government whose agent demolished part of the property while the
matter was pending in court.

He prayed the court not to grant the EFCC’s prayer for
forfeiture of the said properties, saying they belonged to a
separate entity, the Aruera Foundation.

According to him, the foundation has not breached any law.

Justice Dimgba adjourned the matter until April 30 for a
ruling.

(NAN)

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, fixed April 30 to
rule on an application, seeking the forfeiture of two properties
belonging to Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck
Jonathan to the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on October.
20,2017 filed an ex parte application praying the court for an
order of interim forfeiture of some properties belonging to the
former First Lady.

This was with particular reference to the property at Plot No.
1758, Cadastral Zone, Mabushi and Plot No.1350, Cadastral Zone,
Central Business District, Abuja.

The EFCC through its counsel, Mr. Benjamin Mangi, told the court
that the application was predicated on the fact that the property
was a subject matter of investigation, enquiry and examination.

Mangi denied that the commission took part in the demolition of
part of the building as was being alleged by Jonathan, adding that
the suit before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, was different from the one
before Justice John Tsoho.

He prayed the court to refuse Jonathan’s application asking it
not to entertain the ex parte motion and to grant EFCC’s prayer for
forfeiture of the two properties pending investigations.

Jonathan’s lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed an application
seeking to stop the ex parte motion on the grounds that the
properties were already a subject matter of litigation.

He said that the EFCC had filed another suit in respect to the
same properties in the same Federal High Court, Abuja.

Ozekhome urged the court to condemn the action of the Federal
Government whose agent demolished part of the property while the
matter was pending in court.

He prayed the court not to grant the EFCC’s prayer for
forfeiture of the said properties, saying they belonged to a
separate entity, the Aruera Foundation.

According to him, the foundation has not breached any law.

Justice Dimgba adjourned the matter until April 30 for a
ruling.

(NAN)