Court Dismisses Patience Jonathan’s N2bn Suit Against EFCC

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed a suit filed on June 30, 2017 by wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan; Mrs. Patience Jonathan against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in which she accused the EFCC of harassing her over political views she held in 2015.

She alleged that the EFCC resorted to invasion of houses linked to her, and obtaining interim forfeiture orders against accounts‎ and houses belonging to her, her non-government organisation and her family members which are violation of her fundamental human rights.

The court however, ruled that none of her complaints against the EFCC was sustainable.

The judge; Justice John Tsoho while delivering judgement, 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 the agency’s handling of the investigations of bank accounts and properties linked to her and her relatives.

He said that the former First Lady having failed to prove her allegations against the commission, was not entitled to any of the six prayers, including N2bn damages, sought in the suit.

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