Court Dismisses Patience Jonathan N2bn Suit Against EFCC

Mrs. Patience Jonathan, the wife of the former president Goodluck Jonathan, has lost the N2billion fundamental rights suit filed against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in his verdict in Abuja yesterday dismissed the suit due to the failure of Mrs Jonathan to sustain claims of violations of her fundamental rights by the EFCC.

Mrs. Jonathan had in her suit filed asked the court to order EFCC to pay her the sum of N2billion as general damages/compensation jointly and severally for the violation of her fundamental rights and incessant harassment.

She also wanted the court to declare the indiscriminate freezing of her bank accounts and her family by the EFCC under the pretext of investigation of proceeds of crime without any invitation or interrogation.

However, the judge further held that her suit was largely weakened by the respondent deposition that investigations of the alleged crimes said to have been committed by her are ongoing and in progress.

Justice Tsoho held that the law does limit the period on investigation of a crime and that the case of the applicant was not sustained.

He ruled further that “no verifiable evidence to prove that the applicant (Patience) is being hunted because of her views expressed during the 2015 general election campaign.”

On the sealing of her properties by EFCC, Justice Tsoho held that her rights have not been violated as the court has granted the anti-graft agency an interlocutory injunction sealing the properties on a reasonable ground of suspicion that they were obtained by proceeds of crime.