The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered an
interim forfeiture of two properties linked to the wife of former
President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.
The properties are at Plot No. 1960, Cadastral Zone A05, Maitama
District, and Plot No. 1350, Cadastral Zone A00, both in Abuja.
The properties were said to be held in the name of Ariwabai
Aruera Reachout Foundation, which Mrs. Jonathan was said to be one
of its “trustees”.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had in an ex parte
application filed in September last year asked for an interim
forfeiture of the properties, which it claimed were subjects of an
ongoing criminal investigation.
Ruling on the commission’s ex parte application on Monday,
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba dismissed Mrs. Jonathan’s objection to the
application for lacking in merit.
The court then ordered the interim forfeiture which he however
ruled must only last for 45 days.
He ruled that within the 45 days, EFCC must conclude its
investigations and charge the suspects being investigated in
respect of the alleged crimes linked to properties.
He however added that the EFCC was at liberty to file an
application for the extension of the life span of the order before
the expiration of the initial 45 days.
He also ordered that if for any reason EFCC’s officials needed
to access the properties within the period of interim forfeiture,
they must do so with the respondents in attendance.
He ordered that the inventory of the fixtures in the properties
and a report to that effect must be submitted to the court.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered an
interim forfeiture of two properties linked to the wife of former
President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Patience
Jonathan.
The properties are at Plot No. 1960, Cadastral Zone A05, Maitama
District, and Plot No. 1350, Cadastral Zone A00, both in Abuja.
The properties were said to be held in the name of Ariwabai
Aruera Reachout Foundation, which Mrs. Jonathan was said to be one
of its “trustees”.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had in an ex parte
application filed in September last year asked for an interim
forfeiture of the properties, which it claimed were subjects of an
ongoing criminal investigation.
Ruling on the commission’s ex parte application on Monday,
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba dismissed Mrs. Jonathan’s objection to the
application for lacking in merit.
The court then ordered the interim forfeiture which he however
ruled must only last for 45 days.
He ruled that within the 45 days, EFCC must conclude its
investigations and charge the suspects being investigated in
respect of the alleged crimes linked to properties.
He however added that the EFCC was at liberty to file an
application for the extension of the life span of the order before
the expiration of the initial 45 days.
He also ordered that if for any reason EFCC’s officials needed
to access the properties within the period of interim forfeiture,
they must do so with the respondents in attendance.
He ordered that the inventory of the fixtures in the properties
and a report to that effect must be submitted to the court.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/just-in-court-orders-interim-forfeiture-of-patience-jonathans-abuja-houses/