Court Unfreezes Patience Jonathan’s $5.8m in Skye Bank

Ladipo Sanusi/

A Federal High Court, in Lagos, has unfrozen a Skye Bank account, belonging to former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, with a balance of $5, 842, 316. 66.

The court, presided over by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, on Thursday, took the decision to unfreeze the account following an application filed and argued before the court by Jonathan’s lawyer, Mr. Adedayo Adedipe (SAN).

Adedipe had urged the court to unfreeze the account on the ground that his client was not a party in the suit that led to the freezing of the account.

Citing relevant judicial authorities, Adedipe contended that the suit was an abuse of court process, as the court has no jurisdiction to make an order against a person that is not a party in a suit filed before it.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which originally requested the court to make an order freezing the account, did not file any response to the application to discharge the order.

In her ruling, Justice Olatoregun upheld the submission of Adedipe and consequently, discharged the order freezing the account.

The EFCC had in November, last year, filed an application before Justice Olatoregun to make an order freezing a Skye Bank account of the former First Lady, which contains the sum of $5, 842, 316. 66, on the ground that the money is suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Also affected by the order were the accounts of five limited liability companies with a combined sum of N7, 418, 829, 290. 94.

The companies are: Finchley Top Homes Limited, Aribawa Aruera, Magel Resort Limited, AM-PM Global Network Limited and Pansy Oil and Gas Limited.

Another account belonging to one Esther Oba, with a balance of $429, 381. 87, was also affected by the order.

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