COURT SHUTS OUT 6 SANS AS EFCC MOVES AGAINST PATIENCE JONATHAN’S 15 BANK ACCOUNTS

IKOYI, Lagos, Nigeria – Six Senior Advocates of Nigeria(SANS) on Monday stormed a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos in a move to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from going ahead with fresh moves to seize funds found in 15 bank accounts linked with former first lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan

The EFCC had appeared before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun with an ex parte application, seeking the temporary forfeiture of the funds.

The move was, however, interrupted by a train ofSANS, led by Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe and Chief Mike Ozekhome, who challenged the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the ex parte application.

They informed the court that the funds, which 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 suit, since his application was nothing but an 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.But in view of the development, the judge adjourned the case till January 23, 2018 and directed the EFCC to file an affidavit to convince her that there are no pending lawsuits relating to the funds sought to be forfeited.

In the said ex parte application, the EFCC listed Patience Jonathan and five firms and one Esther Oba as respondents.The ex parte application was backed by a 15-paragraph affidavit deposed to by an investigator with the EFCC, Huleji Tukura.

According to Tukura, investigation by the anti-graft agency revealed that the funds in the bank accounts linked to Patience emanated from the coffers of Bayelsa State and that the funds were moved at a time when the former First Lady served as a permanent secretary in one of the ministries in Bayelsa State.