Patience Jonathan Talks Tough: "EFCC Release My Money Or Face Trouble"

 

Former First Lady, Patience Ibifaka Jonathan, has threatened to drag the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in The Gambia if her bank accounts are not de-freezed and a public apology tendered immediately. Mama Peace said she will also demand N5billion as “damages.”

  

 In a fresh letter from her lawyers, First Law Solicitors and addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, Mrs. Jonathan insisted the agency must publicly apologise to her and lift any restrictions on her dollar accounts at Skye Bank Plc. The letter from First Law Solicitors was signed by Senior Partner, Timipa Jenkins Okponipere, on behalf of the company.

“Consequently, we urge the EFCC to de-freeze our client’s accounts within 14 days from September 18, 2016 and tender a public apology to her. If the EFCC fails, refuses and/or neglects to comply accordingly, we shall file an action at the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights at The Gambia demanding N5billion in exemplary and punitive damages."

In the 26-paragraph letter, the firm said Mrs. Jonathan’s rights were breached in what it described as “the commission’s illegal and unlawful investigation of our client for alleged money laundering. These investigations have reportedly led to the freezing of our client’s accounts and led to untold consequences to our client’s health and wellbeing…”

The law firm insisted that since the former First Lady was not charged with any financial crimes, and since she had not been invited to make statement on the seized funds, the commission had no right to freeze her accounts. But if EFCC said they are tracing and locating more "loots" and will act at the end of investigation.