The sum of about N1,000,494,000 linked to the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, has been ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano and presided over by Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa gave the interim order on Friday following a motion ex-parte to that effect by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The forfeited sum, the court directed, should be deposited in the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.
“An interim forfeiture order is granted to the Federal Government in the sum of N1,000,494,000 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand Naira Only) in the Bank account of the 1st respondent Magel Resort Limited 4011019546 which is maintained with 2nd respondent Fidelity Bank Plc.,” Lewis-Allagoa ordered.
The money was said to have been lodged in three deposits with Fidelity Bank Plc on May 20 and 25, 2015.
It was found in the account of a company linked with Patience Jonathan, Magel Resort Limited.
Acting on intelligence report, EFCC, carried out its preliminary investigation and confirmed that the wife of the former president and some relatives of her husband were directors of Magel Resort Limited.
The other directors are Oba Oba Tamunotonye, Goodluck Jonathan Aruera, Goodluck Jonathan Ariwabai and Esther Fynface.
Tracing the origin of the money, it was said to have been discovered that the sum of N500,000 was deposited on the 20th of May, 2015 by Fynface.
The sum of N1 billion was said to have been transferred in two tranches on the May 25, 2015 from Pagmat Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
The company is said not to be incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
