The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC
has reportedly traced a multi-billion naira property said to be owned by former
First Lady, Patience Jonathan. The Nation reports the antigraft agency is
currently investigating the property and may place it under Interim Asset
Forfeiture.
The agency is said to also be investigating the relationship between Mrs.
Jonathan and two companies being probed by detectives.
Also, three accounts and three more properties have been put under surveillance
by the anti-graft commission in connection with the ongoing investigation of
the ex-First Lady. The three accounts belong to Aribawa Aruera Research
Foundation; Finchley Top Homes Limited and AM-PM Network Limited. The accounts
were uncovered in the course of investigating Mrs Jonathan and Aribawa Aruera
Research Foundation.
The anti-graft commission is suspecting a business relationship between Mrs.
Jonathan and Finchley Top Homes Limited and AM-PM Network Limited. Preliminary
investigation revealed that huge slush funds might have been laundered through
the foundation and the two firms.
A report indicated that Aruera Foundation is registered with the Corporate
Affairs Commission (CAC) with RC No 22805. “Huge funds were suspected to have
been laundered into the accounts of the above mentioned companies and
properties worth billions of naira were allegedly acquired by ex-First Lady
Patience Jonathan through the aforementioned companies. Detectives were able to
track transactions through open source information from interbank settlement.
The ex-First Lady and five others are trustees of Aribawa Foundation.
Intelligence from Abuja Geographical Information Service (AGIS) revealed that a
multi-billion naira property, Plot No. 1758B06 in Mabushi Area, belongs to the
foundation. The said property is not such that a state Permanent Secretary in
person of Mrs. Patience Jonathan can afford.
The property should be marked as under investigation and interim forfeiture
order be secured.” The ex-First Lady is being probed in connection with three
other assets – Plot 96(DO5) in Karsana ; Plot 7109 (E18) in Wasa; and Plot 30
(DO3) in Idogwari. Besides, EFCC detectives have turned their searchlight on
the ex-First Lady’s relationship with Finchley Top Homes Limited and AM-PM
Network Limited. Another source added: “We have conducted searches at the
Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on the two companies whose accounts were
earlier frozen alongside that of the ex-First Lady over $5.8 million which was
reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
They were among the five companies and one Esther Oba said to be having a total
sum of N7.4 billion in six banks. But their counsel Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN)
succeeded in unfreezing the account on April 6 at the Federal High Court
presided over by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun. This is a new investigation. It
is too early to return any verdict on the two companies because our detectives
are looking into their books.”
The source cited Section 7 of the EFCC (Establishment) Act to justify the
investigation. Section 7 of the EFCC Act says: “The commission has power to (a)
cause any investigations to be conducted as to whether any person, corporate
body or organization has committed any offence under this Act or other law
relating to economic and financial crimes. (b) Cause investigations to be
conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the commission
that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by
his source of income.”
The latest probe of Mrs. Jonathan has raised the number of properties linked to
her to 17. According to the EFCC source, about 13 properties were initially
associated with the ex-First Lady in Port Harcourt and Yenagoa.
The assets in Port Harcourt are former Customs Service Officers Mess; two duplexes
at 2/3 Bauchi Street; landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; three
luxury apartments of four-bedroom each at Ambowei Street; and Grand View Hotel
on Airport Road.
Other assets in Yenagoa include two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro
Expressway; Glass House on Sani Abacha Expressway, which is housing the
Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP
filling Station, Melford Okilo Road; and Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa on
Sani Abacha Expressway.
The agency is said to also be investigating the relationship between Mrs. Jonathan and two companies being probed by detectives.
Also, three accounts and three more properties have been put under surveillance by the anti-graft commission in connection with the ongoing investigation of the ex-First Lady. The three accounts belong to Aribawa Aruera Research Foundation; Finchley Top Homes Limited and AM-PM Network Limited. The accounts were uncovered in the course of investigating Mrs Jonathan and Aribawa Aruera Research Foundation.
The anti-graft commission is suspecting a business relationship between Mrs. Jonathan and Finchley Top Homes Limited and AM-PM Network Limited. Preliminary investigation revealed that huge slush funds might have been laundered through the foundation and the two firms.
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