Patience Jonathan Gives EFCC 14 Days to unfreeze her Account
Mrs. Patience Ibifaka Goodluck Jonathan, through her legal
representatives, First Law Associates, has given the Economic and
Financial Commission, EFCC, 14 days with effect from September 18
to unfreeze her accounts and tender a public apology to her.
In an open letter to EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, Senior Partner, First
Law Associates, Timipa Okponipere Esq.urged the Commission to leave the
Goodluck Jonathan family alone “We shall file an action at the
African Commission on Human Rights at the Gambia demanding N5 billion in
exemplary and punitive damages.”
“There is no established legal or political precedent for what the
EFCC is currently doing to our client. How many former First Ladies in
Nigeria have received the Patience Goodluck Jonathan Treatment (PGJT) to
have warranted the EFCC to engage in the effrontery to freeze our
client’s accounts and subject her to public opprobrium, ridicule and
disgrace? This nonsense must stop forthwith.”
“Our client is a respected senior citizen of international repute,
a retired Permanent Secretary and the immediate past First Lady of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. Our Client is a law-abiding citizen who has
never or at all been the subject of any criminal and/or financial
investigation, whether at home or abroad. Accordingly, she has not been
found guilty of any criminal conduct throughout a sparkling public
service career spanning over 35 years.”
“During the 5 years our client served as First Lady of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria between May, 2010 and May, 2015; she was the
Initiator/Founder of the A. ARUERA WOMEN FOUNDATION as well as the WOMEN
FOR CHANGE INITIATIVE; both of which Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs) substantially contributed to the 35 per cent affirmative action
for women in the country. Our Client is the recipient of numerous local
and international awards in recognition of her untiring commitment
towards uplifting the living standard of women, children and the aged in
Nigeria.
“Sir, it is against this sterling and meritorious background of our
client that we most respectfully, write to draw your attention to the
numerous breaches of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the African
Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act
2004 committed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in
cause of the Commission’s illegal and unlawful investigation of our
client for alleged money laundering. These investigations have
reportedly led to the freeze of our client’s accounts and led to untold
consequences to our client’s health and well-being,”
“The EFCC must realize that the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 is inferior in content and quality
to both the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As
amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, 2004.”
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