Patience Jonathan
The wife of the former president of Nigeria has filed a law suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Skye bank for freezing her four accounts which had $15million in it.
The EFCC had earlier launched an investigation on an aide of the former first lady, Dudafa for alleged money laundering, and in the process discovered the money was linked to four accounts which was opened in her name.
On the 7th of July 2016, the accounts belonging to Patience Jonathan were frozen until investigations were concluded.
Patience Jonathan, who claimed ownership of the accounts, subsequently sued the EFCC and the bank.
The case was first heard on Wednesday by Justice Babs Kuewumi.
The lawyer to the accused, Mr Granville Abibo (SAN), applied for a discontinuation of the previous motion filed by its client for the sole purpose of amending it. The motion was struck out by the Justice.
According to the suit, the fomee fist lady wants Skye bank to pay her for damages amounting to N200million for a violation of her right to own property under section 44 of the 1999 constitution, while urging the EFCC to immediately lift the ‘No Debit Order’ on the accounts.
An affidavit was also filed in support of the motion by one Sammie Somiari, who stated that Dudafa only helped Patience to open the four bank accounts which were frozen by the EFCC.
He also claimed that Dudafa opened five accounts as against the four, while he opened one of the accounts in her name, the other four were opened in the names of four companies belonging to Dudafa.
