The Federal High Court has pronounced a guilty verdict on
four companies used by Patience Jonathan to launder $15.5m. PM News reports
that the verdict was read on Wednesday, November 2 by the court. Waripamo
Dudafa who is the former personal assistant to former president, Goodluck
Jonathan allegedly used the companies to launder the money on behalf of the
former first lady. The account of the former first lady was frozen by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged act of corruption.
The sentence has also
been reserved until the conclusion of the trial of the three accused persons
involved in the case. Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability
Project (SERAP) was sued for asking the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission to investigate and prosecute Patience Jonathan.
The former first lady has been under the radar of the EFCC
following accusation of financial mismanagement leading to the freezing of some
accounts connected to her but the former first lady has said that she made her
money by saving donations she got from friends. SERAP had dragged the federal
government before the Federal High Court in Lagos asking the court for leave to
apply for judicial relief and to seek “an order of mandamus directing and or
compelling the attorney-general of the federation and minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami (SAN), to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against
Mrs Jonathan over the $15m unexplained wealth frozen in four companies’ accounts.”
Patience demanded that the EFCC pay her $200million for infringing on her
rights when it froze the $15m in her account. Patience made the claims through
her lawyer Granville Abibo at a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday,
October 26. Patience is also praying that the court to issue an order
discharging the freezing order and restraining the EFCC and its agent from
further placing a freezing order on the said accounts. Tied as respondents in
the suit are EFCC, Skye Bank and Dudafa.
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