The Federal High Court has pronounced a guilty verdict on four companies used by Patience Jonathan to launder $15.5m. PM News reports that the verdict was read on Wednesday, November 2 by the court. Waripamo Dudafa who is the former personal assistant to former president, Goodluck Jonathan allegedly used the companies to launder the money on behalf of the former first lady. The account of the former first lady was frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged act of corruption.
The sentence has also been reserved until the conclusion of the trial of the three accused persons involved in the case. Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) was sued for asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate and prosecute Patience Jonathan.
The former first lady has been under the radar of the EFCC following accusation of financial mismanagement leading to the freezing of some accounts connected to her but the former first lady has said that she made her money by saving donations she got from friends. SERAP had dragged the federal government before the Federal High Court in Lagos asking the court for leave to apply for judicial relief and to seek “an order of mandamus directing and or compelling the attorney-general of the federation and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against Mrs Jonathan over the $15m unexplained wealth frozen in four companies’ accounts.” Patience demanded that the EFCC pay her $200million for infringing on her rights when it froze the $15m in her account. Patience made the claims through her lawyer Granville Abibo at a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, October 26. Patience is also praying that the court to issue an order discharging the freezing order and restraining the EFCC and its agent from further placing a freezing order on the said accounts. Tied as respondents in the suit are EFCC, Skye Bank and Dudafa.
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