Former Nigerian First Lady Claims Ownership of Frozen $31.4m

Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has claimed that the $31.4 million involved in an alleged fraud case where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had issued a No Debit/Freezing Order belongs to her.

Counsel to the first defendant in charge, Mr. Gboyega Oduwole informed the Federal High Court in Lagos that Mrs. Jonathan had filed a fundamental application against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claiming ownership of the money.

Mrs. Jonathan, in the application filed on September 6, 2016, with file number FHC/L/C5/1233/16, is asking the court to make an order for the enforcement of her fundamental rights, in terms of reliefs she sought, and naming as defendants, the EFCC and Skye Bank Plc.

The case, with number FHC/337C/16, has the former presidential aide, Amajuoyi Azubike Briggs, former Skye Bank official, Damola Bolodeoku, Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited, all who are allegedly without addresses, as defendants.

Others also charged include Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited and Globus Integrated Services Limited.

The former first lady asked the court to make a declaration that the fund standing to the credit of four of the companies and an account in her own name in Skye Bank belonged to her.

She also asked the court to declare that the action of the respondents in placing a No Debit/Freezing Order on the said accounts without any order of a competent court of law or prior notice to her, to be in breach of her fundamental rights as contained in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.