Frozen $15.5m: Court adjourns Jonathan’s suit to next year

Patience Jonathan

Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court Lagos, on Wednesday, further adjourned till Jan. 18, 2017, hearing in a suit by ex first Lady, Patience Jonathan, seeking enforcement of her fundamental rights.

Jonathan had instituted the fundamental rights suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claiming the sum of 200 million dollars as damages for inconveniences suffered.

In her suit, she also joined Skye bank Plc, and a former aide to ex president Goodluck Jonathan, Warampo Dudafa as respondents.

Also joined in the suit are four companies namely: Pluto Property Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean company Ltd and Globus Integrated Service Ltd.

When the case was called on Wednesday, counsel to Jonathan, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) informed the court of a motion seeking to regularise his processes before the court.

Justice Idris granted him leave to amend his processes, while the court also granted leave to the EFCC to amend its counter affidavit.

The court consequently, fixed Jan. 18, 2017 for continuation of hearing.

Meanwhile, a similar suit before another judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi has also been fixed for hearing on Dec. 14.

It will be recalled that Dudafa was charged alongside the four companies before Justice Kuewumi, on 15 counts of money laundering.

Representatives of the four companies which the EFCC claimed were used by Dudafa to launder the said sum of money, had all pleaded guilty to the offences.

The said $15.5 million, is the same sum which the former first lady, claims belongs to her as sole signatory to the accounts of the companies.

In her suit, Jonathan is urging the court to issue an order discharging the freezing order, and restraining the EFCC and it’s agent from further placing a freezing order on the said accounts.

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