The hearing of the final forfeiture application of $5.8 million and N2.4 billion linked to the former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has been set for March 28 at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
After ruling on the arguments advanced by counsel to the parties in the suit, Justice Tijani Ringim set the date.
It should be noted that on April 26, 2017, while granting Exparte’s application for the interim forfeiture of the said sums filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Justice Cecilia Mojisola Olatoregun, now retired, ordered that the said sums, which were warehoused by Skye Bank and Ecobank Nigeria Plc, be forfeited in the interim.
However, after Justice Olatoregun retired, the case was assigned to Justice (Professor) Chuka Obiozor.
However, before Justice Obiozor could preside over the case, he was transferred to another jurisdiction of the court, and the case was inherited by Justice Ringim.
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At today’s resumed hearing, counsel for La Wari Furniture and Baths Limited, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), representing Ige Asemudara, told the court that his client has two pending applications before the court, one of which seeks to stay proceedings on the suit based on its pending appeal. The second application was for the matter to be started from scratch (afresh).
In addition, Mr. Sammie A. Somiari (SAN), counsel to Patience Jonathan, agreed with Ozekhome’s submission (SAN).
However, the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), vehemently opposed the applications, claiming that the court’s business for the day was to hear the application for final forfeiture of the money.
After hearing arguments from counsel, Justice Ringim agreed to the EFCC’s lawyer submissions.
As a result of the counsel’s agreement, Justice Ringim adjourned the hearing on the application for final forfeiture of the money until March 28.
