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

dimeji akinloye

July 6, 2017 7:41 AM

The Federal High Court in Lagos had on April 16 ordered the interim forfeiture of the funds domiciled in Skye bank.

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The Court of Appeal has fixed July 12, 2017, to hear an appeal filed by ex-President

The Federal High Court in Lagos had granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) an interim order on April 26, to freeze Mrs. Jonathan's account domiciled in Skye Bank.

The funds in the account are allegedly proceeds of crime.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the lower court had earlier fixed May 22, 2017, for anyone interested in the funds to appear before her to prove why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Apart from the Skye Bank account, the EFCC also froze an Ecobank account, with a balance of N2.4bn, and with the account name - La Wari Furniture and Bath Limited.

The company was linked to the former First Lady.

Counsel to Mrs. Jonathan, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), alongside Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who represented La Wari Furniture and Bath Limited, however, told the judge that their clients have appealed the temporary forfeiture order.

ALSO READ: Court dismisses Patience Jonathan's N2bn suit against EFCC, fines her N50,000

They urged Justice Olatoregun to suspend further proceedings, pending the outcome of the appeal.

The judge consequently adjourned the case till September 24, 2017, to give the parties time to "ventilate their views in the appellate court."

dimeji akinloye