Frozen $31.4m: Dame Patience writes court, says money is hers

The former First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan has written to court over a controversial sum frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In the application, Dame Jonathan is claiming ownership of the $31.4 million involved in the alleged fraud case before a Lagos High Court.
EFCC had indicted the following persons in an alleged $31.4 million fraud involving the companies without addresses:
1. Former Skye Bank official, Damola Bolodeoku,
2. Former presidential aide, Amajuoyi Azubike Briggs,
3. Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited and,
4. Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited to court.
Others also charged include:
1. Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited;
2. Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited, and,
3. Globus Integrated Services Limited.
Counsel to the first defendant in charge, with case number FHC/337C/16, Mr. Gboyega Oduwole, informed the court that Mrs. Jonathan filed a fundamental application against claiming ownership of the money.
According to an application filed on September 6, this year, with file number FHC/L/C5/1233/16, Mrs. Jonathan is asking the court to make an order for the enforcement of her fundamental rights.
The enforcement is in terms of reliefs she sought, and naming as defendants, the EFCC and Skye Bank Plc.
The former first lady asked the court to make a declaration that the fund standing to the credit of four of the companies and an account in her own name in Skye Bank belonged to her.
She also asked the court to rebuke the respondents in placing a No Debit/Freezing Order on the said accounts without any order of a competent court of law or prior notice to her.
She asked the court to declare that the action of the respondents to be in breach of her fundamental rights as contained in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


elombah