Why Court Decided to Unfreeze Patience Jonathan's Bank Account Containing $5.9million

The reason for the decision of a Federal High Court to unfreeze an account belonging to Dame Patience Jonathan has been given.

Former ex-lady, Patience Dame Jonathan

 

A Federal High Court sitting president over by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun in Lagos had on Wednesday ordered that a domiciliary account of former first lady, Patience Jonathan, at Skye Bank Plc., reportedly containing $5.9million be unfrozen.

 

He gave the order unfreezing the account stating that she was not a party to the initial case that led to the freezing of the account.

 

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had in December 2016 made the freezing order following an application for an interim injunction to that effect by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

 

The EFCC had in an affidavit deposed to by one of its operatives, Mr. Abdulahi Tukur, told the judge that suspected proceeds of crime were retained in the accounts and urged the judge to urgently freeze the accounts pending the conclusion of its investigations.

 

While reversing the initial freezing order sequel to an application argued by her (Patience’s) legal team which is led by Adedayo Adedipe (SAN). Adedipe urged the court to unfreeze the account on the ground that Patience Jonathan was not a party in the suit leading to the order made by the court. Adedipe while citing judicial authorities contended that the order was an abuse of court process as the court has no jurisdiction to make an order against a party that is not a party in a suit filed before the court.

 

The EFCC did not file any response to the application filed by Adedipe seeking to discharge the order. Based on the submission which the court admitted and upheld, Justice Olatoregun discharged the initial order freezing the account.

 

Outspoken lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozhekome, only a few weeks ago said that the action of the EFCC was unjust.

 

As had become customary any day the case involving Mrs. Jonathan came up in court, supporters of the ex-first lady again thronged the court premises in a show of solidarity.