Embattled Patience Jonathan optimistic over $5.8m as court fixes new date for her case

BUY AND SELL @ marttle.com

– A court had earlier ordered a temporary forfeiture of the $5.8 million claimed to be owned by Dame Patience Jonathan

– The Federal High Court in Lagos has now fixed a date for the hearing of the case after Dame Jonathan’s lawyer appeared in court

Justice Mojisola Olaterogun of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos state has fixed September 24, 2017 for hearing in the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking a final forfeiture order on the sum of $5.8 million allegedly belonging to Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to the EFCC, the adjournment came following an order by the Court of Appeal on stay of proceedings sought by Jonathan.

The court had, on April 26, 2017, ordered an interim forfeiture of the money following an ex-parte motion filed by the EFCC.

The court has fixed a date to hear the case concerning the alleged $5.8

ZENITHBLOG.com learnt that in granting the temporary forfeiture, the court had adjourned to May 18, 2017 for the respondent to show cause why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

READ ALSO: Aisha Yesufu is painting BBOG in bad light, she needs to step aside – Onochie

A statement by the EFCC said at the last adjourned date, counsel to Jonathan, Ifedapo Adedipe, told the court that he needed more time to file necessary responses to the court’s order.

Adedipe further alleged that the EFCC failed to publish the notice of the court’s order in a national newspaper in time.

Mrs

Jonathan’s counsel further asked for an adjournment, which was granted by the court.

The proceeding could not however continue when the case came up on Monday, May 22 owing to a pending appeal at the court.

While addressing the court, counsel to Patience Jonathan, Mike Ozekhome, said: “The appeal in this matter has been entered and going by Rule 5 of the Court of Appeal rules, this court ceases to exercise jurisdiction to proceed in this matter.

“It will amount to an illegal judicial voyage, if this court embarks on the proceedings in this matter.”

Responding, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that he was not aware of any hearing notice by the appellate court.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app

However, Ozekhome showed a copy of the appellate court’s hearing notice to the court.

Ruling, Justice Olatoregun said: “As a result of the appeal notice that has been entered, coupled with the hearing notice slated for July 5, I am inclined to grant an adjournment in this matter for parties to ventilate their views in the appellate court.”

The matter was adjourned to September 2, 2017.

Watch this video of what a Nigerian thinks about former President Goodluck Jonathan:

‘);
});
}(window, document);

0naze

Share: