Ladipo Sanusi/
Former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan temporarily lost N350million over alleged N1.2billion proceed of unlawful enrichment when she was Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State.
A Federal High Court, in Lagos, ordered that the sum of N350million, belonging to AM-PM Global Network Limited at Stanbic-IBTC, be temporarily frozen.
Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari, made the order while granting an ex-parte application filed and argued before her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, against the company.
In urging the Court to grant the ex-parte application, the EFCC in a nine paragraph-affidavit deposed to by Musbau Yahaya, an investigator with the anti-graft agency, stated that between June 20, 2012, and November 15, 2013, the respondent (AM-PM Global Network Limited), fraudulently received a total sum of N1, 206, 950 billion, into its Diamond Bank account number 0026718889, being proceeds of unlawful enrichment derived by Dame Patience Jonathan, who was then the Permanent Secretary, appointed by the Bayelsa State government.
According to EFCC, the respondent, in a bid to dissipate the fund, opened account number 0016971559 with Stanbic-IBTC Bank, at Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island branch.
EFCC stated that out of the alleged proceeds of unlawful enrichment of Dame Patience Jonathan, the respondent transferred the total sum of N350million, from its Diamond Bank’s account to the account sought to be attached, in a desperate bid to dissipate the funds.
EFCC further stated that its agents traced the said N350million, to the respondent’s account sought to be attached, and that the Court order was needed to instruct the bank to attach the account to prevent the dissipation of the funds, and that unless the application was heard and determined, the respondent would tamper with the account sought to be attached.
The agency pleaded that it would serve the course of justice if the application was granted.
Justice Rabiu-Shagari after listening to the submission made by the EFCC lawyer, ordered the Manager of Stanbic-IBTC Bank, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island branch, to, in the interim freeze the sum of N350million, belonging to AM-PM Global Network Limited, pending the conclusion of the investigation on the account by that anti-graft agency
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