Mrs Jonathan finally withdraws $100,000 from her unfrozen account –Lawyer

Mrs Patience Jonathan on Tuesday said she withdrew $100,000 from her unfrozen bank account despite a Stay of Execution motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This was revealed by her solicitor, Charles Ogboli, who explained that the former First Lady and wife of immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan had wanted to withdraw $5million but that the bank could not give her due to lack of funds.

He further said the money she withdrew from her unfrozen Skye Bank account was for medical treatment.

He added that she withdrew some of the money in her account to ensure the bank’s compliance to the court order, arguing that the Stay of Execution motion filed by the EFCC “is a mere application.”

Ogboli said, “She wanted to withdraw $5million on Friday but unfortunately there was no funds and they (the bank) pleaded with her that she can withdraw $100,000 in order to comply with the order of court. They have complied fully with the order of court.

“Therefore the Notice of Appeal (by the EFCC) came late. The Notice and Stay of Execution is a mere application. And we are talking of court order. Appeal has not been entered yet; records have not been transferred from the lower court to the Court of Appeal. In the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, by mere fact that you have an appeal against a proceeding, it does not stop the trial from going on. That was what they were acting upon.

“Unfortunately for them, the order has been executed. Even when you move the motion it is an exercise in futility. So we are going to court to respond to whatever they filed. The issue is that she went to the bank and applied and account was debited with $100,000. There were no challenges as to withdrawal from her account. She was not in any pressure to withdraw all the money, after all the money was there. But this is just for her medical treatment and all that.

“I wonder why some print media will be publishing things that are not within their knowledge or facts. Mrs Jonathan is a law-abiding citizens and she has not done anything which is ultra vires to the laws of the land.”

Read also: FG appeals lost corruption cases, says setback won’t deter us

Efforts to withdraw from the account on Monday by Mrs Jonathan, was reportedly unsuccessful following a Stay of Execution application by the EFCC.

Meanwhile former President Jonathan for the second time in two days has denied receiving $200m as bribe from the Malabu oil deal.

In a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, he said the allegation against him was sponsored by those threatened by his continuously rising profile in the international community.

 

 

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