A timeline of the feud between the former first lady and the EFCC

It all started in July 2016 when the EFCC froze four bank accounts which held a total sum of $31.4 million. The four accounts were not in her name rather they were in the names of four companies; however it alleged Mrs Jonathan was sole signatory to all the accounts.

Here’s a timeline of their back and forth:

July, 2016 - EFCC freezes accounts

EFCC places ‘No Debit Order’ on the four Skye bank accounts. The agency claimed the money in these accounts were from illegal acts.

September 6, 2016 - ‘The money belongs to me’

Patience Jonathan claimed ownership of the $31.4 million in the accounts. In an application filed on September 6, 2016 before the Federal High Court, Lagos, against the EFCC she asked the court to declare that the placing of a freezing order on the said accounts without any order of a court or prior notice to her as a breach of her fundamental rights.

September 11, 2016 - EFCC to probe ex-First Lady over Skye Bank accounts

Sources revealed the agency would possibly be investigating Jonathan.

September 14, 2016 - Former first lady tells EFCC she needs $31.4M for medical bills

In a letter written by her lawyers, Granville Abibo (SAN) and Co, she pleaded with the acting EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu to lift restrictions on the account as she needed to access funds for her medical bills and other expenses.

September 15, 2016 - 4 companies confess to laundering $15M for ex-first lady

Four companies accused of laundering $15 million in funds, which were subsequently linked to Jonathan, pleaded guilty to fraud.

The companies were charged by the EFCC along with former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa. The companies involved were Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development & Investment Co. Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Development Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited.

September 16, 2016 - Ex-first lady files $200M suit against EFCC

Jonathan filed a $200 million suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at a Federal High Court in Lagos. She also accused the EFCC of plotting to steal her hard-earned money and hiring mercenaries to plead guilty to the charges against the companies.

September 20 , 2016 - Jonathan’s lawyers threaten EFCC with N5bn lawsuit

Lawyers of ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan threatened to institute a N5 Billion lawsuit against the EFCC if their client's frozen accounts weren't released in 14 days.

September 22, 2016 - EFCC freezes another bank account

Patience Jonathan’s personal account with a balance of $5million was frozen. The EFCC requested the ex-first lady to explain how a housewife acquired the sum of $20M.

September 24 - 'Accounts frozen by EFCC belong to my late mum'

Jonathan claimed that two of the alleged fraudulent bank accounts traced to her were owned by her late mother, Madam Charity Fyneface Oba. Her counsel Mr. Charles Ogboli said she was not privy to the account of the companies.

September 28 - New twist as 4 companies seek to change 'guilty' pleas

Lawyers of the four companies linked to ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan's fund of over $15million, filed an application seeking the court to reverse their pleas.

October 2016 - ‘The money is gift from friends’

In a statement, the first lady said the money was a gift from friends.

“The funds in question were legitimate gifts from her friends and well-wishers over the last 15 years which she had been saving in order to utilise to upgrade family businesses and concerns which had been somewhat dormant by reasons of the long period of her husband service as a public officer in Nigeria”, the former First Lady said in a statement made available to Pulse.

October 26, 2016 - Court fixes date for former first lady’s suit against EFCC

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday fixed December 7, 2016 to hear a suit by Mrs Patience Jonathan, against EFCC, seeking to unfreeze her account.

October 29, 2016 - EFCC to seize ex First Lady’s properties

The anti-graft agency mandated some of its operatives to identify the properties belonging to the former first lady.

November 8, 2016 - EFCC wants me to implicate First Lady – Dudafa

Dudafa has alleged that the EFCC wants him to implicate the ex first lady, Patience Jonathan.

November 14, 2016 - EFCC traces fresh $175m to ex-first lady

The money was found in the account of Pluto Property and Investment Limited, one of the firms linked to the ex-first lady.

November 22, 2016 - Court refuses to issue restraining order on ex-First Lady's $15.5m

November 24, 2016 - Ex First Lady denies ownership of $175m allegedly found in her account

She claimed she had only $10m in her account before it was blocked by the EFCC.

December 7, 2016 - Ex-First lady made $15.5M from crime – EFCC

The EFCC made the allegations in a counter-affidavit presented before a Federal High Court in Lagos. This came after Jonathan filed a suit against the EFCC and urged the court to order the agency to unfreeze the bank accounts in question.

December 7 - Ex-First Lady wants Reps to stop EFCC from harassing her

She made the plea via a petition presented to the House by Delta State lawmaker, Lovette Idisi on Wednesday, December 7. The petition was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Public Petitions by Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

December 14, 2016 - Bala Mohammed was acquiring properties for ex-First Lady – EFCC

The government agency also accused Mohammed of using his office to illegally allocate land to Mrs Jonathan.

January 3, 2017 - EFCC goes after ex-First Lady's cousin who 'owns' N9bn accounts

Patience Jonathan's cousin, Esther Oba, was put on the EFCC watch list after it was discovered that she was identified as one of the owners of the accounts bearing the signature of Mrs Jonathan. The EFCC said the accounts had Oba's Bank Verification Number (BVN) but carry Patience's signature.

January 18, 2017 - Court to hear ex-First Lady’s suit against EFCC on Feb 13

February 20, 2017 - Ex-first lady's suit against EFCC adjourned till April 24

March 22, 2017 - Court to hear EFCC's preliminary objection May 2

An FCT High Court in Lugbe has adjourned till May 2, hearing on a preliminary objection filed by the EFCC over the assets seizure of former First Lady Patience Jonathan.

April 6, 2017 - Court unfreezes ex-First Lady’s bank account

April 10, 2017 - Bank blocks ex-First Lady from accessing her unfrozen account

It was reported on Monday, April 10, Mrs. Jonathan, alongside her aides went to the Skye bank's Maitama, Abuja, branch to withdraw from the account, but she was not granted access on the ground that the EFCC had obtained a stay of execution of the court order

April 25, 2017 - Jonathan free to spend $5.9M as EFCC withdraws case against her

She was granted unrestricted access to her previously frozen bank account. The Federal High Court in Lagos reached the decision on Tuesday, April 25, after the EFCC withdrew its appeal against an earlier court decision to unfreeze the bank account.

April 26, 2017 - Lagos court orders interim forfeiture of ex-first lady's $5.8m

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court, Lagos, granted a fresh ex parte application ordering the forfeiture of 5.8 million dollars belonging to Patience Jonathan.

May 8, 2017 - Court declines request to unfreeze ex-first lady's accounts

June 8, 2017 - EFCC links former First Lady to Abuja asset

The agency traced a multi-billion naira property in Abuja to Jonathan and marked it “under investigation”.

June 10, 2017 - EFCC seizes hotel worth N2bn from ex-First Lady

The EFCC reportedly reportedly seized a five-storey hotel building in Abuja unofficially valued at N2 billion; allegedly owned by her.

July 4, 2017 - Court dismisses ex-First Lady's N2bn suit against EFCC, fines her N50,000

A Federal High Court ordered the former President's wife, to pay N50, 000 to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State gave the order after Mrs. Jonathan withdrew her suit against the EFCC.

July 6, 2017 - 'Protect me from EFCC, others', ex-First Lady begs Reps

Patience Jonathan urged the lawmakers to call all security agencies to order.

July 6, 2017 - Appeal court to hear ex-First Lady's case over seized $5.9m on July 12

July 11, 2017 - Ex-First Lady says EFCC has tried to kill her twice

She accused anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of plotting to assassinate her. She made the accusation in a letter she wrote to the House of Representatives on Monday, July 10, 2017, claiming she had already survived two attempts on her life.

July 12, 2017 - Judge withdraws from Jonathan's appeal, case adjourned

The case in the Court of Appeal to overturn a ruling freezing the sum of $5.9 million found in her Skye Bank account was delayed by an unexpected withdrawal. The case was supposed to commence at the Lagos court but was adjourned because one of the three-man panel withdrew from the case.

September 4, 2017 - Ex-First Lady recovers N2 billion hotel from EFCC

September 13, 2017 - EFCC links 2 new properties to ex-First Lady

September 19, 2017 - Reps ask banks to unfreeze ex First Lady's accounts

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions directed six commercial banks to free accounts operated by former first lady, Patience Jonathan.

September 20, 2017 - Court adjourns EFCC’s suit against ex First Lady to November 13

The absence of Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court Lagos stalled proceedings in an application seeking permanent forfeiture of 5.7million dollars belonging to Jonathan. The case has now been fixed for November 13.