Judge Gives March 28 To Entertain Forfeiture Application Of Patience Jonathan’s $5.81m, N2.4bn

Barring any last-minute change, hearing of the final forfeiture application of the sum of 5.81 million USD and N2, 421, 953, 522. 78 billion, said to be owned by the former first lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan, will commence from March 28, 2023.

Justice Tijjani Ringim of a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos arrived at the date after ruling on the arguments canvassed by counsel to parties in the suit.  

It would be recalled that Justice Cecilia Mojisola Olatoregun, now retired, had on April 26, 2017, while granting an Ex Parte application for the interim forfeiture of the said sums filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), directed that the said sums that were warehoused in two new generation banks be forfeited in the interim.

The directive, which was confronted up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, had the apex court order that the lower court should continue with the hearing of the matter.

But upon Justice Olatoregun’s retirement, the suit was transferred to Justice (Professor) Chuka Obiozor. 

However, before Justice Obiozor could preside over the matter, he was transferred to another jurisdiction of the court, and the matter was inherited by Justice Ringim.

When the case came up yesterday, the lawyer for La Wari Furniture and Baths Limited, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), informed the court that his client has two pending applications before the court, adding that one of the applications is seeking to stay proceedings on the suit, based on its pending appeal, while the second application was for the matter to start denovo (afresh).

Furthermore, Mr Sammie A. Somiari (SAN), lawyer to Patience Jonathan, aligned himself with the submission of Ozekhome (SAN).

But counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) opposed the applications, with an argument that the court’s business for the day was to hear the application seeking final forfeiture of the money.

After entertaining arguments from lawyers, Justice Ringim acceded to the submissions of the anti-graft agency's lawyer.

All rights reserved. This material and other digital volumes on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from THE NEWS ACCELERATOR NETWORK.

For advert placement, please contact thenewsacceleratornetwork@gmail.com or 08033599492.