The Court of Appeal in Lagos yesterday dismissed an appeal filed by wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, over the temporary forfeiture of her $5.7million.
She had appealed against a ruling by the Federal High Court in Lagos which temporarily ordered the money’s forfeiture to the Federal Government.
The Court of Appeal upheld the temporary forfeiture order made by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun on April 26, last year.
She made the order based on an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo.
The judge also ordered the temporary forfeiture N2,421,953,522.78 found in an Ecobank account numbered 2022000760 in the name of La Wari Furniture and Baths Ltd.
The commission said the money also belongs to Mrs Jonathan.
The Court of Appeal similarly dismissed an appeal by La Wari Funiture and Baths.
Through her lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), Mrs Jonathan urged the Appeal Court to declare Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act unconstitutional for being in conflict with the Evidence Act and the 1999 Constitution.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Mojeed Owoade, the Court of Appeal held that the appeals lacked merit.
It upheld Oyedepo’s arguments and resolved the issues against the appellant.
She had appealed against a ruling by the Federal High Court in Lagos which temporarily ordered the money’s forfeiture to the Federal Government.
The Court of Appeal upheld the temporary forfeiture order made by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun on April 26, last year.
She made the order based on an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo.
The judge also ordered the temporary forfeiture N2,421,953,522.78 found in an Ecobank account numbered 2022000760 in the name of La Wari Furniture and Baths Ltd.
The commission said the money also belongs to Mrs Jonathan.
The Court of Appeal similarly dismissed an appeal by La Wari Funiture and Baths.
Through her lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), Mrs Jonathan urged the Appeal Court to declare Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act unconstitutional for being in conflict with the Evidence Act and the 1999 Constitution.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Mojeed Owoade, the Court of Appeal held that the appeals lacked merit.
It upheld Oyedepo’s arguments and resolved the issues against the appellant.
