Patience Jonathan loses N2b suit against EFCC

The Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday struck out a fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

She had in June last year dragged the anti-graft agency before the court, demanding N2billion for allegedly violating her rights by freezing her bank accounts and those of her relatives.

Mrs. Jonathan alleged that EFCC raided houses linked to her as well as obtained interim forfeiture orders against accounts‎ and houses belonging to her, her non-government organisation and family members.

But Justice John Tsoho held that none of her complaints against the EFCC was sustainable.

The judge accepted that her suit was not an abuse of court process, but ruled that none of her rights, including rights to fair hearing, own property, family life, dignity of human person and freedom from discrimination, was violated by the actions of the EFCC in its investigations of bank accounts and properties linked to her and her relatives.

He held that having failed to prove her allegations against the commission, the former First Lady was not entitled to any of the six prayers, including the N2billion damages sought in the suit

The judge noted that Mrs. Jonathan’s case had been weakened by the fact that the EFCC had said its investigations were ongoing.

He consequently struck out the case.