The
Supreme Court has dismissed an application filed by Patience Jonathan, wife of
former president, Goodluck Jonathan, seeking to upturn the interim forfeiture
order by a Federal High Court, Lagos placed on the sum of N2.4 billion linked
to her.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, had traced the said sum to her and alleged that it was a proceed of
illegal activities. The N2.4 billion, according to the EFCC was surreptitiously
kept in the bank account of La Wari Furniture and Baths Limited, domiciled with
Eco Bank Plc.
Justice Mojisola Olaterogun had in 2017 ordered
the interim forfeiture of the money and held that anyone interested in it
should appear before the court to show cause why it should not be finally
forfeited to the federal government.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Patience had
approached the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, seeking to upturn the ruling of
the lower court.
However, ruling on the appeal on January 12,
2018, the appellate court, in a lead judgement read by Justice Mojeed Owoade,
rather upheld the interim forfeiture order.
Not
satisfied with the ruling of the appellate court, Patience, through her
counsel, Mike Ozekhome, again filed an appeal challenging the ruling before the
Supreme Court.
However, the five-member panel of Supreme Court
justices have now again in a unanimous ruling, delivered on Friday, March 15,
2019, upheld the interim forfeiture order of the N2.4 billion.
It will be recalled that a five-member panel of
Supreme Court justices, had on Friday, March 8, 2019, in a unanimous judgement,
also dismissed Mrs Jonathan’s appeal against the interim forfeiture order of a
Federal High Court, Lagos, for another $8.4 million traced to her by the EFCC
and believed to be proceeds of illegal activities.
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