A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered an interim forfeiture of two houses allegedly linked to former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.
One of the houses is situated at Plot No. 1960, Cadastral Zone A05, Maitama District, Abuja, while the second is at Plot No. 1350, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja.
Mrs. Jonathan is said to be a trustee of Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation, owner of the properties.
Giving the order for the interim forfeiture, the judge, Nnamdi Dimgba, dismissed Jonathan’s objection to the application for lacking in merit.
The court said the order would be for 45 days for the EFCC which filed the suit against Patience Jonathan to conclude its investigation.
Some of the demands of the EFCC included the court to stop any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the properties.
Also, it requested the authority to allow it (EFCC) to appoint competent person(s)/firm to manage the asset/property “listed in the schedule herein, temporarily forfeited to the federal government pending the conclusion of investigation.”
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Giving the verdict, Dimgba said: “I have carefully considered the processes filed. I have also carefully considered the arguments.
“Accordingly, a period of 45 days is accorded to the EFCC to investigate whether the properties in question were acquired with the proceeds of crime.”
The judge did not approve of the motion challenging the originating summons.
Counsel to Patience Jonathan, Mike Ozekhome, in reaction to the verdict said: “We did not lose; we won. What the EFCC wanted was for the property in dispute to be attached and forfeited to the government but the court refused, instead, gave them 45 days to further investigate and prosecute if they so wish with liberty to apply for renewal.”
