Patience Jonathan: Ex-First Lady says $31.4m frozen by EFCC belongs to her

Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has claimed ownership of the $31.4 million frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Counsel to the defendant Mr. Gboyega Oduwole, told the  Federal High Court in Lagos that Mrs. Jonathan has filed a fundamental application against the EFCC over the money, which was frozen over an alleged fraud case.

In an application filed on September 6, 2016, with file number FHC/L/C5/1233/16, the former First Lady asked the court to order the enforcement of her fundamental human rights.

The EFCC and a former presidential aide,Amajuoyi Azubike Briggs, former Skye Bank official, Damola Bolodeoku, Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited, were named as defendants in the case.

Other defendants include Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited and Globus Integrated Services Limited.

Mrs Jonathan also asked the court to declare that the money, standing to the credit of four of the companies and an account in her own name in Skye Bank belonged to her.