Patience Jonathan begs court to de-freeze account

A former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has again filed a suit praying to defreeze a no debit order placed on her account containing $15.5 million at Skye bank Plc by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos had on May 8, ordered the refiling of the suit through writ rather than by originating summons.

On Monday, the court granted an application by the former first lady seeking an extension of time within which to reply to the EFCC’s statement of defence.

The judge subsequently fixed January 19, 2018 as the date for commencement of trial.

While ordering the refiling of the suit, Justice Idris held that it would not be proper for the plaintiff to commence the suit by way of originating summons since issues surrounding the ownership of the money were largely contentious among parties.

The judge while noting that oral evidences will be needed to resolve the issue in contention ordered parties to file their pleadings in line with the Federal High Court rules 2009 for trial to commence in the matter.

The former first lady has accused the antigraft agency of placing a no debit order on her account containing $15.5 million at Skye bank Plc without a valid court’s order.

Mrs Jonathan, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, is seeking an order to de-freeze the accounts where the money is domiciled.

Among the respondents in the suit are the EFCC, Skye Bank, WaripamoOwei Dudafa, an aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan and four companies.