Admin l Friday, January 12, 2018
IKOYI, Lagos, Nigeria – Former First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Patience Jonathan today lost in her quest to retrieve the sum of $6 million from the custody of the Nigerian government.
Patience Jonathan went on appeal after Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court ordered temporary forfeiture of the money to the Nigerian government on April 26, 2017 based on an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The judge also ordered the temporary forfeiture of over N2 billion found in an Ecobank account with the name La Wari Furniture and Baths Ltd.
According to EFCC, the money was received in dollars by an Ecobank Plc staff from Aso Rock (Presidential Villa) through one Esther Oba who allegedly fronted for Mrs Jonathan.The Court of Appeal also dismissed an appeal by La Wari Funiture.
Mrs Jonathan had urged the appellate court to dismiss the temporary forfeiture order on the basis that sufficient materials were not presented at the lower court, among others.
But Justice Mojeed Owoade held that the appeals lacked merit.
