A Federal High Court in Lagos presided by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun on Wednesday ordered a temporary forfeiture of $5.8 million belonging to former First Lady Patience Jonathan to the Federal Government.
Justice Olatoregun’s order came after an application by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo, seeking the forfeiture of the amount to government, pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The same judge had on Tuesday unfrozen the account after the anti-graft agency withdrew an application for stay of prosecution of the court’s earlier ruling.
It would be recalled that Olatoregun had in November granted a forfeiture order on the Skye bank account following an application by the commission.
However, early in April, the same court issued another order unfreezing the account after an application by Mrs Jonathan’s counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe, who had challenged the propriety of the EFCC’s action.
In a new ex parte motion filed on Wednesday, the EFCC sought an order freezing the said $5.8 million lodged in Skye Bank.
In addition, the commission prayed the court for an order of interim forfeiture of N2.4 billion discovered in an EcoBank account in the name of La Wari Furniture and Bath Ltd which the agency said are suspected to be proceeds of crime.
After granting the order, the judge adjourned the case till May 15, to enable any interested party to appear and show reason why the interim order should not be made permanent.
