Seized $15.5m: Court Adjourns Patience Jonathan’s Suit

The Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned the suit filed by the wife of former President             Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, to take possession of a sum of $15.5m seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2016.
Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned the suit till November 2 for trial after counsel to the EFCC Mr Rotimi Oyedepo’s application for deeming order was granted.

The judge had earlier ruled and order the parties to file pleadings, stating that the case cannot be decided without evidence.

At the resumption of Thursday’s proceeding, counsel for the third defendant, Mr Ige Asemudara, informed the court that all parties have filed their briefs, praying that a fresh date for argument should be given since today was for mention.

The ex-president’s wife had filed the suit in 2016 to challenge the “No Debit Order” placed by the anti-graft agency on the bank accounts of four companies linked with a former special adviser to her husband, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa.

The said companies, which had a total of $15.5m in their bank accounts, are Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development & Investment Co. Ltd; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd; and Development Company Limited and Globus Integrated Service Limited.

EFCC had frozen the bank accounts of the companies while it was investigating Dudafa over allegations of money laundering.