Court Fixes New Date To Hear EFCC’s Suit Seeking Forfeiture Of Patience Jonathan’s $8.4m

Court Postpones Oral Evidence Hearing On EFCC’s Suit  Till April 12

Oral evidence for the suit by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, seeking final forfeiture of about 8.4 million dollars, and N7.4 billion linked to the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan will be heard April 12, 2019.

The Federal high court in Lagos made this known today as the case could not proceed as earlier scheduled.

Recall that Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had in a ruling delivered on Feb.28, on the motion for final forfeiture, held that there were conflicting affidavit evidence, which could be best resolved if respective parties were called upon to give oral evidence.

The case was consequently, adjourned until March 13 (today) for oral evidence.

Naija News reports that the EFCC had secured an interim order for forfeiture of the sums on April 20, 2018, before Olatoregun, following a motion exparte.

It joined as respondents: Patience Jonathan, Globus Integrated Services Ltd, Finchley Top Homes Ltd., Am-Pm Global Network Ltd, Pagmat Oil, and Gas Ltd and Magel Resort Ltd and Esther Oba.

Also on Oct. 29, 2018, EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, had moved his motion for final forfeiture of the sums, urging that same be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.

Meanwhile, defence counsel, Messrs Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), and Mr Ige Asemudara had respectively moved their processes in opposition to the motion for final forfeiture.

On Jan. 15, the court had admitted electronic evidence presented by respondent counsel, which depicted video exhibits showing various business outfits of the third and sixth respondents

The court had then adjourned for judgment.