A Federal High court in Abuja has ordered an interim forfeiture to the government, two houses linked to the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba gave the order following an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after dismissing Dame Patience Jonathan’s objection to the application for lacking in merit.
The properties are situated at Plot No. 1960, Cadastral Zone A05, Maitama District, and Plot No. 1350, Cadastral Zone A00, both in Abuja. They were said to have been acquired in the name of Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation, which is allegedly linked to the former first lady.
The Judge, however, said that the forfeiture must last for only 45 days within which EFCC must conclude its investigations.
EFCC had, in the ex-parte motion, asked the court to order an interim seizure of the properties traced to the former first lady, which it claims are subject to an ongoing investigation.
Justice Dimgba, in his ruling, ordered the interim forfeiture, limiting it to only 45 days.
He ruled that within the 45 days, EFCC must conclude its investigations and charge the suspects being investigated in respect of the alleged crimes linked to properties.
He, however, added that the EFCC is at liberty to file an application for the extension of the lifespan of the order before the expiration of the initial 45 days.
The Judge also ordered that if for any reason EFCC’s officials needed to access the properties within the period of interim forfeiture, they must do so with the respondents in attendance.