BEVERLY HILLS, September 20, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Labour Congress has insisted that Mrs. Patience Jonathan, former first lady and wife of the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, must disclose how she made the $31m found in some accounts, linked to her, recently frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, made this known on the side-lines of the NLC National Youth Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, declaring that the onus lies on Patience to prove to Nigerians that the money in question was legitimately earned.
Wabba also challenged Mrs. Jonathan to tell Nigerians the kind of business she had been doing to make such a huge amount of money asserting that she would have been made to forfeit the money to the government in other countries.
“We have said it over and over again that NLC is the first organisation that actually supported openly the anti-graft war. We said recover, investigate and prosecute so that it can serve as a deterrent,” he said.
“Our position has been clear on the issue of the frozen $31m. In this respect, the onus of prove is on the ex-First Lady. First, she must inform all of us the sources of the money.
“She must explain what business she has done to accumulate such wealth. In other climes, people would have forfeited such funds. This is our position and we have always been consistent about it.
“If you look at it critically, that is why we are where we are today. Salaries are not paid in many states not because the resources are not there but because of the inherent corruption in the system.
“Corruption fight should also be extended to states and local governments. Wherever there is element of corruption, whoever is involved, the law must take its course.
“There should be investigation. There should be fair trial within the confines of the law and whoever is found wanting, those funds should be recovered and prosecution should follow to serve as a deterrent.”
Story by David Oputah
