Women storm court over Mrs Jonathan, send message to EFCC

Angry women supporters of former First Lady Patience Jonathan, again on Wednesday stormed the Lagos Federal High Court during the hearing of her suit.

The former first lady is suing the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the seizure of $15.591(about N4.8 billion) she claims is her money.

The women groups in their assorted uniforms again stormed the court, bearing placards with such inscriptions as, “Open her account because she’s not a criminal,” “As you have frozen her account, you have also frozen the lives of millions of less privileged she helps;” “Leave her alone, she is a woman of integrity,” “Injustice to one is injustice to all,” among several others.

The women had some time ago, also during the hearing of the case, beseeched the court premises with placards demanding that EFCC unfreeze the account.

The EFCC had linked the money to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s former aide Waripamo-Owei Dudafa and four companies to the frozen the money.

However, Patience who laid claim to the money had gone to court to sue Skye Bank Plc, where the money is lodged.

Other respondents in the suit are Dudafa, the four companies, Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Avalon Global Property Development Ltd.

Read also: ALLEGED N4.9BN FRAUD: Please hands off my case, Fani-Kayode tells judge

The companies had through their representatives pleaded guilty to laundering the money.

EFCC had charged the companies along with Dudafa, a lawyer Amajuoyi Briggs and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku, for laundering the money, the three unlike the companies pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge against them.

Former President Jonathan’s wife is praying the court in the suit, before Justice Mohammed Idris to unfreeze the accounts to enable her access her funds.

When the court resumed hearing on the matter on Wednesday, counsel to Mrs. Jonathan Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), asked for an adjournment to enable him serve the companies with an amended claim.

He said the other defendants had been served and that they had responded with their counter-affidavits.

In a supporting affidavit to the suit, Mrs Jonathan’s aide, Sammie Somiari, told the court that Dudafa helped the former First Lady to open the four banks accounts.

The matter was adjourned till February 13 for hearing by Justice Idris.

 

 

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