Patience Jonathan blocks EFCC’s move to seize fortune

Former first lady, Patience Jonathan has blocked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s attempt to get an ex parte order allowing it to temporarily seize about $8,435,788.84 and another N7.35bn belonging to her

The monies were said to be kept in 15 bank accounts linked to Patience Jonathan, the wife of former president, Goodluck Jonathan.

Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC counsel, on Monday, filed the ex parte order before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos. To his surprise, a horde of senior lawyers, led by Ifedayo Adedipe and Mike Ozekhome, stormed the courtroom, saying the judge lacked jurisdiction to entertain the ex parte application.

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They claimed the money for which Oyedepo sought the order of forfeiture was currently a subject of litigation. But the EFCC counsel argued otherwise and wondered how the senior lawyers knew about the EFCC’s move to seize the money.

Justice Olatoregun did not grant Oyedepo’s request due to the challenge of the interloping lawyers. Rather, the judge adjourned till January 23, 2018, when Oyedepo would prove to the court there isn’t any current litigation regarding the money.