Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered that a domiciliary account of ex-first lady, Patience Jonathan, at Skye Bank Plc., reportedly containing $5.9million be unfrozen because she was not a party to the initial case that led to the freezing of the account.
The account had hitherto been frozen by the same court following an affidavit in support of Ex-parte originating summons sworn to by an EFCC operative, Abdulahi Tukur, and filed before the court by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo.
However, the court reversed the initial freezing order sequel to an application argued by her (Patience’s) legal team which is led by Adedayo Adedipe (SAN).
Adedipe urged the court to unfreeze the account on the ground that Patience Jonathan was not a party in the suit leading to the order made by the court.
Adedipe while citing judicial authorities contended that the order was an abuse of court process as the court has no jurisdiction to make an order against a party that is not a party in a suit filed before the court.
The EFCC did not file any response to the application filed by Adedipe seeking to discharge the order.
Based on the submission which the court admitted and upheld, Justice Olatoregun discharged the initial order freezing the account.
Outspoken lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozhekome, only a few weeks ago said that the action of the EFCC was unjust.
As had become customary any day the case involving Mrs. Jonathan came up in court, supporters of the ex-first lady again thronged the court premises in a show of solidarity.
