– Mrs. Jonathan is also reported to be in Abuja where she is strategising on how to win her case against the anti-graft agency.
Some senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have vowed to battle the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of about $19.8 million in the accounts of former first lady Patience Jonathan.
According to The Nation, there were indications on Friday, September 23 that some senators of PDP held a meeting on Thursday, where they vowed to back the former First Lady in her suit against the EFCC over the freezing of about $19.8 million in her accounts. Mrs. Jonathan was also reported to be in Abuja where she is strategising on how to win her case.
A source said: “Some PDP Senators have been meeting on a daily basis on how to give support to Mrs. Jonathan. They even met on Thursday and the battle will involve a bit of propaganda too. “At the appropriate time, we will reveal the identities of the affected senators based on intelligence report. The corrupt will always protect their own. “Some of these senators are even the ones bankrolling a part of this battle between the former First Lady and the EFCC.” A report of the EFCC investigative team had implicated the former first lady over the opening of four questionable companies’ accounts in Skye Bank with a balance of $15,591,700.
The report stated in part that: “Based on the investigation so far carried out, it has revealed that the four fraudulent VISA Platinum USD Card accounts used by Mrs. Patience Goodluck Jonathan has a cumulative balance of $14,029.881.79 which has been swept Post No Debit Card category. “Again, her personal account, different from the four fraudulent VISA Platinum USD Card accounts, bears the balance of $5,841,426.17.
“Considering the above stated findings, we can safely conclude that a prima facie case of conspiracy to retain proceeds of unlawful activities, retention of the proceeds of unlawful activities, money laundering contrary to Section 15(3) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and forgery contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004 have been established against the aforementioned suspects.”
The EFCC claimed that all the funds traced to Patience Jonathan’s accounts were proceeds of gratification. The report said: “The intelligence revealed that Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel fraudulently received various sums of money, being proceeds of gratification and retained same on behalf of the then First Family and for himself .” Meanwhile, former first lady, Patience Jonathan whose bank accounts have been frozen by the EFCC has revealed the alleged owner of the frozen accounts.
Mrs Jonathan claims that two of the accounts belonged to her late mother, Madam Charity Fyneface Oba. Counsel to the first lady, Charles Ogboli who disclosed, this on behalf of his client on the Channels Television discussion programme, Sunrise, said that only three of the five accounts in dispute could be traced to the former first lady and her mum.
NAIJ.com
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