SAN FRANCISCO, September 20, (THEWILL) – Proceedings on the application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking permanent forfeiture of $5.7million belonging to Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, was stalled on Wednesday.
This was due to the absence of the presiding Judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court, Lagos, as no judge of the court’s Lagos Division sat on Wednesday.
The justices were reportedly in Abuja for a valedictory session for former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, held on Tuesday.
Justice Olatoregun had previously ordered the temporary forfeiture of N2,421,953,522.78 found in an Ecobank Nigeria Limited account numbered 2022000760 in the name of La Wari Furniture and Baths Limited which the EFCC claimed belonged to Patience.
The anti-graft body is praying the court to order that the cash be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
However, following the order by the judge, on April 26, Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), said he filed an application for stay of proceedings pending the appeal’s determination.
Counsel for La Wari Furniture and Baths, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), also argued that once an appeal had been entered, the lower court ought to stay proceedings.
Citing several judicial authorities and Court of Appeal Rules, Ozekhome said it would amount to disrespect for court hierarchy for the judge to proceed with the case where there was a pending appeal.
Justice Olatoregun held that it would be in the interest of justice to await the Court of Appeal’s decision and adjourned the case until 20th of September.
A new date of November 23 has been fixed for hearing of the case.
