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Patience Jonathan continues suit against EFCC

Published

10 years ago

February 20, 2017

Anti-graft agency questions court’s jurisdiction

Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has continued her legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). She is protesting threats or embarrassment over her fundamental human rights in the corruption trial by the EFCC.

Meanwhile, Justice Salihu Saidu of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has fixed April 24, 2017, to hear the fundamental rights suit filed by Patience Jonathan against the EFCC.

EFCC lawyer, Kayode Oni, challenged the jurisdiction of the court, while the counsel to Patience Jonathan, Granville Abibo (SAN), faulted the EFCC notice, describing it as a delay tactic.

Abibo SAN had acknowledged that they are in court to stop the EFCC from intimidating the wife of the former President.

“You are aware that Mrs. Jonathan has always tried to be law abiding despite being harassed and intimidated by the media trials. The court being the last hope of the Command man that is why we have come to court. But you know in court the other party has the right to reply but the matter has just been adjourned because of EFCC, because they just brought a notice to court today which we need to respond,” Abibo declared.

“For us we have put the facts on the table truthfully. The EFCC took the first shot by freezing her accounts but they have refused to stop there. They have also gone ahead to take other unnecessary actions which we feel is violating her rights,” he added.