The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the temporary forfeiture $8,435,788.84 and N7.35bn suspected to belong to former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.
The EFCC told Justice Mojisola Olatoregun that the funds which it believes emanated from Bayelsa State, were found in 15 bank accounts linked with the Mrs. Jonathan.
The anti-graft agency’s counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, said the order would prevent the ex-first lady from dissipating them.
According to the EFCC, the funds were moved from Bayelsa State’s coffers at a time Mrs. Jonathan served as permanent secretary.
The Commission alleged that she gained access to the funds by fraudulently assuming the identity of one Esther Oba as the signatory to the said account.
The EFCC’s claims were contained in an ex parte application filed by Oyedepo before Justice Olatoregun.
However, the proceedings were interrupted by a train of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) led by Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe and Chief Mike Ozekhome, who challenged the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the ex parte application.
The SANs told the judge that the funds which the EFCC seeks to seize were already subject of litigation.
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