Should Patience Jonathan be investigated for corruption?

Following the anti-corruption crusade championed by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, former first lady, Patience Jonathan has been shrouded in a $31.4 million corruption-related investigation. In what might be considered an unprecedented move, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) went after the first lady of the incumbent president and froze an account connected to her making it impossible for her to access the $31.4 million in it while investigation goes on. 

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 While some Nigerians have commended the anti-graft agency for the fearless move that will go a long way to wipe away corruption from the Nigerian system, others have described the move as a sort of witch-hunt as the former first lady has right to her money since she has not been formally charged with a crime. 

The EFCC angle

 The anti-graft agency revealed that the account was being fingered as one of those involved in an alleged fraud case before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos but Mrs Jonathan’s counsel, Gboyega Oduwole has filed a case before the court, informing that her client is unhappy with the EFCC over the recent move to freeze the account.  

Patience Amajuoyi Azubike Briggs, an ex-presidential aide; Damola Bolodeoku, a former Skye Bank official; Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited had all been charged to court over their individual involvement in the fraudulent activities with companies without address. Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited and Globus Integrated Services Limited were also charged with the same offence. 

Ibrahim Magu, the chairman of the EFCC has insisted that no corrupt person will be spared 

Like in the case of Governor Ayodele Fayose, the EFCC has insisted that it has a right to freeze accounts of persons suspected to have committed financial crime until the completion of investigation and the frozen account would be presented as an exhibit in court. .

The Patience Jonathan angle

 Following the restriction on her account, Patience demanded a court declaration that the EFCC breached her fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by placing a ‘freezing order’ on the said accounts without any court order or prior notice to her. A few days later, the former first lady wrote a letter to Ibrahim Magu, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) explaining that the $31.4 million found in her account is for her medical expenses. In a letter through her lawyer, Patience claimed the money in the account was for medical bills and personal expenses. 

“Our client has been operating the said accounts using the cards for her medical bill payments and purchases for her private purposes without any let or hindrance. 

“Our client was therefore surprised when the said cards stop functioning on July 7, 2016, or thereabout. Our client immediately, thereupon, contacted Skye Bank Plc through our solicitors. 

‘‘It was only then that the bank officials informed our client that the said accounts were placed on a ‘No Debit Order’ following investigations and instruction from your commission and this is without notice to our client by either the bank or the commission.” In light of this current controversy between Patience and the EFCC, a lot of discussions have started about whether the anti-graft agency has a right to freeze the account of the former first lady or no. Do you think Patience Jonathan should be probed and her account frozen or not? Is any Nigerian above the law? Please share your opinion by voting below:..



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