Patience Jonathan’s Unfrozen $5.8m: EFCC Withdraws Applications Against Court Order

Ladipo Sanusi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, withdrew its application before a Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking to deny former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, access to her Skye Bank with a balance of $5,842,316.66

The account had earlier been frozen by an order of the court upon a request by the EFCC.

However, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, on April 6, 2017, ordered the account unfrozen, after Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), successfully challenged the grounds on which the earlier order was granted.

Not satisfied with the latter order, the EFCC filed an application for stay of execution of the order and a notice of appeal challenging the judgment. The applications were dated April 6, and filed on April 7.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, on Tuesday, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, informed Justice Olatoregun of the anti-graft agency’s intention to discontinue the two applications.

He, however, gave no reasons for the agency’s decision.

Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer also confirmed the service of the application for withdrawal on his client.

He further informed the court of his intention to withdraw Form 48 (notice of Committal to prison) and Form 49 (Committal to prison), which he had filed against Skye Bank Plc for failing to obey the order unfreezing his client’s account.

Following the submissions of both counsels, Justice Olatoregun granted the withdrawal of the EFCC’s applications, and the defendant’s Form 48 and 49.

Mrs. Jonathan is, consequently, free to continue to operate the account without any hindrance.

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