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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, filed an application before an Abuja Federal High Court seeking to take over assets belonging to Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation owned by wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.
In an ex-parte motion that was signed by its lawyer, Mr. Benjamin Manji, EFCC applied for an order of interim attachment/forfeiture of assets and properties of the foundation in Abuja.
It specifically prayed the court to grant it the ownership of Plot No. 1960, Cadastral Zone A05 Maitama District and Plot No. 1350, Cadastral Zone A00, in Abuja.
The anti-graft agency equally sought for “An order stopping any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the property/asset described in the schedule attached herein.
As well as, “An order authorizing the EFCC to appoint a 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”.
However, Mrs. Jonathan, through her team of lawyers Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Mike Ozekhome (SAN) got wind of the application and filed a counter application challenging the ex parte application for forfeiture of the properties.
She argued that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the application, adding that the application is legally defective as did not comply with the rules of the court.
She submitted that ”the said NGO was registered as a charitable organization and in the last 10 years, it has carried out several charitable programmes, in line with its objectives.
Meanwhile, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba has fixed November 11 for hearing of the suit.
In an ex-parte motion that was signed by its lawyer, Mr. Benjamin Manji, EFCC applied for an order of interim attachment/forfeiture of assets and properties of the foundation in Abuja.
It specifically prayed the court to grant it the ownership of Plot No. 1960, Cadastral Zone A05 Maitama District and Plot No. 1350, Cadastral Zone A00, in Abuja.
The anti-graft agency equally sought for “An order stopping any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the property/asset described in the schedule attached herein.
As well as, “An order authorizing the EFCC to appoint a 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”.
However, Mrs. Jonathan, through her team of lawyers Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Mike Ozekhome (SAN) got wind of the application and filed a counter application challenging the ex parte application for forfeiture of the properties.
She argued that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the application, adding that the application is legally defective as did not comply with the rules of the court.
She submitted that ”the said NGO was registered as a charitable organization and in the last 10 years, it has carried out several charitable programmes, in line with its objectives.
Meanwhile, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba has fixed November 11 for hearing of the suit.
