ionigeria.com Nigerian Newspaper
Former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan on Thursday claimed that the four persons who pleaded guilty to money laundering charges on behalf of the four companies linked to her are mercenaries hired by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), she also stated that she can prove the source of her money.
Her claims are contained in a statement released by her media aide, Chima Osuji.
She alleged that the EFCC presented four unknown persons, who were not authorised by the companies’ boards to plead guilty on behalf of the companies.
She said it was a ploy by the EFCC to ensure that her hard-earn money was confiscated.
The ex-President’s wife argued that the EFCC failed to comply with Section 477 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, by not presenting to the court on Thursday any letter to show that the four persons were authorised by the companies to represent them.
“This is a clear evidence of the desperation of the prosecution to pull down the former First Lady and confiscate her hard-earned money.
“It is an irony that it was the former First Lady who went to court for the repatriation of her confiscated money when she realised that the EFCC and its co-travellers were playing politics with this issue after she had come out publicly to say that the said money belongs to her and that she has all evidence to prove the sources of her money. Up till this very moment, the EFCC has refused to interrogate or invite her for questioning.
“The biggest twist in court on Thursday was that the fourth to seventh defendants pleaded guilty to all the 15 counts. It is clear that these unknown faces were agents of the EFCC, who have been stage-managed and tutored to come to court to complicate the case as a strategy to confiscate her money,” the ex-President’s wife’s aide, Osuji, said.
He continued that “Mrs Jonathan is not a Director, shareholder, promoter and/or participant in any of the four companies now under trial, and that she was the sole signatory to all the said accounts, contrary to the fabrication that she used her driver and cook as proxies”. Finally, he said Mrs Jonathan has denied ever receiving any monies from any unknown sources into her accounts and that the accounts were opened in order to facilitate her travel overseas particularly for medical treatment, sundry purchase for herself and her late mother Mrs. Charity Oba (Mama Sisi).
Such a disgrace, if found guilty she should go to prison…no begging. Free stealing Na their Policy
Why are you jumping into conclusion. She is the person who went to court to claim that the money belongs to her, she has gone ahead to state that she is willing to prove the source of her money. As at today, EFCC has not even bordered to invite her for interrogation. Also, for your information, EFCC has not brought up any charge against her, so there is no way she can be found guilty and sent to jail. She has a right to fair hearing.
Charles……hmmmmm..na waooo….remind me again please what business is she into?
Ogochukwu Philip Ikpo She has not denied ownership of the money, she says she can prove how she got the money. The right thing to do is to invite her for interrogation. It is not for me to remind you the business she is into. My position is that proper investigation should be conducted
Michael Phillips An enquiry should be opened. You cannot do this without questioning the alleged owner of the money
…I wish you could also give “PMB” the benefit of the doubt in your reportage concern him and his government……just my thoughts. ..
Ogochukwu Philip Ikpo please be specific. Mention a particular report that he was not given the benefit of the doubt. I will be ready to pull the story down immediately
Common Charles….in.our personal conversations on contemporary issues you never show patience for Mr. President….anyway I will remind you when next it happens…..enjoy your weekend