Patience Jonathan, wife of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has temporarily forfeited N1.4 billion to the Federal Government.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a motion seeking the interim forfeiture of the money which was lodged in three deposits with Fidelity Bank Plc on 20th and 25th May 2015.
Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa of a Federal High Court sitting in Kano gave the ruling on the interim forfeiture, according to a statement by the EFCC on Friday.
The said money was found in the account of Magel Resort Limited, a company linked to the former First Lady.
The Commission learnt that a huge sum of money was lying in an account in Fidelity Bank without it being used by anybody.
The anti-graft agency then swung into action by conducting a preliminary investigation, which revealed that Mrs Jonathan and some relatives of her husband were directors of the Company.
Others named as directors are Oba Tamunotonye, Goodluck Jonathan Aruera, Goodluck Jonathan Ariwabai and Esther Fynface.
Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa held that: “An interim forfeiture order is granted to the Federal Government in the sum of N1,000,494,000 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand Naira Only) in the Bank account of the 1st respondent Magel Resort Limited 4011019546 which is maintained with 2nd respondent Fidelity Bank Plc.”
The court further ordered that the forfeited sum be deposited in the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.
