Court refuses to unfreeze Patience Jonathan’s account

AFederal High Court in Lagos on Monday refused a request by Dame Patience Jonathan, seeking to unfreeze her accounts, having about $15.5m.

Justice Mohammed Idris ordered parties to file pleadings since issues had been joined as to the ownership of the money.

The judge held that all the defendants formulated different issues from those formulated by the plaintiff in the originating summons, saying it was unacceptable.

According to him, all the counter-affidavits filed by the defendants contain disputed facts that cannot be decided without oral evidence.

Jonathan had prayed the court to order the EFCC to unfreeze her Skye Bank accounts to enable her access the money.

She joined as respondents: EFCC, Skye Bank Plc, Jonathan’s former aide WaripamoOwei Dudafa, Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd., and Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd.

Also joined are Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd. and Avalon Global Property Development Ltd. are the respondents.

On Sept. 15, 2016, when they were arraigned, the companies, had through their representatives, pleaded guilty before Justice Babs Kuweumi, to laundering the money.

They were charged along with Dudafa, Amajuoyi Briggs and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku, for laundering the money.

Unlike the companies, Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge. (NAN)