A Federal High Court, Lagos, Tuesday, adjourned till February 12, further hearing and determination of a case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking an interim forfeiture of the sum of $8. 435,789.84 million USD, and N9.185, 327, 362 billion, linked to the former first lady, Jonathan Patience, and five companies and one Esther Oba.
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun adjourned further hearing and determination of the case at the instance of the EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo.
The monies were said to be in custody of Skye Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, and Stabic-IBTC and First Bank Plc.
Other respondents in the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1918/17, are: Globus Integrated Service Limited, Finchley Top Homes Limited, AM-PM Global Network Limited, Pagmat Oil and Gas Limited, and Magel Resort Limited.
The court had ordered the EFCC to filed an affidavit showing that non of the properties is subject of litigation in any court.
However, at the resumed hearing of the matter Tuesday, EFCC lawyer, informed the court that his commission had filed an affidavit to showing that all monies seeking to be forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria, are not subject of litigation in any court.
Oyedepo stated that in line with the court order, the EFCC at Abuja office, had filed a notice of continuation in relation to the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/17, before Justice Binta Nyako.
He added that the judge had on December 5, 2017, granted an interim order, which stopped the banks warehousing the money to place post No Debit order on the account.
He however stated that in view of the current position, the commission had filed a notice of discontinuance to that suit.
Not convince enough, the presiding judge, ordered the EFCC lawyer to come back and expatiate further on current position of suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/17, before further hearing on suit new Exparte application.
Following the court’s position, the EFCC lawyer, Oyedepo asked for short adjournment, to enable give the court an update in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/17.
In between the case, lawyer to Patience Jonathan and other respondents, Ifedayo Adedipe and Chief Mike Ezekomeh, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), separately informed the court o
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is in fresh moves to seize funds in 15 bank accounts linked with Mrs. Patience Jonathan.
The funds, which the EFCC is seeking to seize, include a total of $8,435,788.84 and over N7.35bn.
The EFCC had on Monday morning appeared before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos with an ex parte application, seeking the temporary forfeiture of the funds.
The move was, however, interrupted by a train of Senior Advocates of Nigeria led by Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), 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.
But counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, maintained that the SANs had no right of hearing in the court, since his application was ex parte, wondering how they got wind of the move by the anti-graft agency in the first place.
He urged the judge to disregard their appearance. The judge upheld Oyedepo’s submission.
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