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Court orders EFCC to unfreeze ex-first lady’s monies
The EFCC has been ordered by a Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday to unfreezing ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan’ Skye Bank.
The agency last November filed an application before the court, seeking an order freezing the account because the fund there, $5.8 million, was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
At the resumed hearing of the case Thursday, the court issued an order unfreezing the account following an application filed and argued before the court by Patience’s defence team leader lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria had urged the court to unfreeze Mrs. Jonathan’s account on the grounds that she was not a party in the suit leading to the freezing order.
Citing judicial authorities, Adedipe contended that the suit was an abuse of court process as the court had no jurisdiction to make an order against one who is not a party in a suit filed before the court.
In her ruling, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun upheld the submissions of Adedipe and consequently, discharged the order freezing the account.
Accounts of five companies suspected to be fronts for Patience, and that of Esther Oba said to be having a total sum of N7.4 billion in six different banks would equally be unfrozen, according to the ruling.
Other companies affected by the order are Finchley Top Homes Ltd, Aribawa Aruera, Magel resort Ltd, AM -PM Global Network Ltd, Pansy Oil and Gas Ltd, and Pagmat oil and Gas Ltd.
Finchely Top Homes Ltd has a current account credit balance of about N226 million in addition to a fixed deposit with a balance of N1 billion.
The court then ordered the EFCC to file an undertaking as to damages if the order is found not to have been made.
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