Court throws out Patience Jonathan’s appeal

The Court of Appeal in Lagos, Friday dismissed an appeal filed by wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience over the temporary forfeiture of her $5.7million.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Mojeed Owoade, the Court of Appeal held that the appeals lacked merit.

It upheld the arguments of EFCC counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, and resolved the issues against the appellant.

The court upheld the constitutionality of Section 17 of the Advance Fee fraud Act, which empowers the EFCC to apply for the forfeiture to the Federal Government of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

Justice Owoade held that he section was not in conflict with Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution which guarantees fair hearing.

Patience Jonathan had appealed against a ruling by the Federal High Court in Lagos which temporarily ordered the money’s forfeiture to the Federal Government.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun ordered the money’s temporary forfeiture on April 26, last year, based on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judge also ordered the temporary forfeiture N2,421,953,522.78 found in an Ecobank Nigeria Ltd account in the name of La Wari Furniture and Baths Ltd.