Justice Tijjani Ringim of a Lagos Federal High Court, on Monday, fixed March 28, for the commencement of hearing of the final forfeiture application of the sum of 845, 316. 66 million USD and N2, 421, 953, 522. 78 billion, said to belong to the former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
The judge fixed the date, after ruling on the arguments canvassed by counsel to parties in the suit.
It would be recalled that Justice Cecilia Mojisola Olatoregun, now retired, had on April 26, 2017, while granting Exparte application for the interim forfeiture of the said sums filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ordered that the said sums were warehoused by Skye Bank and Ecobank Nigeria Plc, be forfeited in the interim.
The order which was vigorously challenged up to Supreme Court. But the Supreme Court ordered that the lower court should continue with the hearing of the matter.
However, upon Justice Olatoregun’s retirement, the suit was transferred to Justice (Professor) Chuka Obiozor.
But before Justice Obiozor could preside over the matter, he was transferred to another jurisdiction of the court, consequently, the matter was inherited by Justice Ringim.
At the resumed hearing of the matter today, counsel La Wari Furniture and Baths Limited, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), leading Ige Asemudara, told the court that his client has two pending applications before the court, one of the applications, is seeking to stay proceedings on the suit, based on its pending appeal. While the second application was for the matter to start denovo (afresh).
Also, Mr. Sammie A. Somiari (SAN) counsel to Patience Jonathan, aligned himself with submission of Ozekhome (SAN).
But counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) vehemently opposed the applications, saying that the court’s business of the day was to hear application seeking final forfeiture of the money.
Justice Ringim, after taken arguments from counsel, acceded to the EFCC’s lawyer submissions.
Consequently, by the agreement of the counsel, Justice Ringim adjourned till March 28, for hearing of application for final forfeiture of the money.
