The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it is heading to
court to file an application seeking the total forfeiture of
$15,591,700, belonging to former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
The money is currently lodged in the Skye Bank account of four
companies: Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate
Property Development & Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean
Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property
Development Company Limited.
The EFCC had frozen the four accounts, which were linked to a former
Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei
Dudafa.
However, Jonathan’s wife had claimed in a sworn affidavit that the
money in the four accounts belonged to her even though there is no paper
evidence to establish a link between her and the companies. She also
urged the court to compel the EFCC to lift the restriction on the
accounts.
The EFCC had arraigned the four companies on Thursday and the companies pleaded guilty to money laundering charges.
Punch quoted a senior EFCC official as saying that the commission
would subsequently apply for the total forfeiture of the funds.
“The four companies, in whose accounts the monies were lodged, have
pleaded guilty to money laundering. We are therefore filing an
application, seeking the complete and total forfeiture of the money to
the Federal Government.
“The $15,591,700 should go (be deposited in) into the Treasury Single
Account of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Punch quoted the EFCC
source as saying.
Cash flow
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