Court suspends proceedings on forfeiture of Patience Jonathan’s $5.7m

Trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, stayed proceedings pending the outcome of an appeal by Mrs Jonathan challenging the money’s temporary forfeiture.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is praying the court to order that the cash be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Olatoregun had on April 26, made an interim order forfeiting the money based on an application by EFCC which said that the money was suspected to be “proceed of crime.”

The court had also ordered the temporary forfeiture of N2,421,953,522.78 found in an Ecobank Nigeria Limited account number 2022000760 in the name of La Wari Furniture and Baths Limited.

The commission said the money is also linked to Mrs Jonathan.

EFCC’s lawyer told the court, yesterday, that he was ready to move his application for the money’s forfeiture, as the respondents had filed counter-affidavits.

Mrs Jonathan’s lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, said he filed an application for stay of proceedings pending the determination of the appeal. Counsel for La Wari Furniture and Baths, Chief Mike Ozekhome,
SAN, on his part, said t once an appeal had been entered, the lower court ought to stay proceedings, adding that the Court of Appeal had already adjourned till July 5, for the hearing of the appeal.

Citing nearly 20 judicial authorities and Court of Appeal rules, he said it would amount to disrespect for court hierarchy for the judge to proceed with the case where there is a pending appeal on a decision.

“The entire proceedings will be an illegality if it goes on. After an appeal had been entered, the Court of Appeal shall be seized of the entire proceedings any application to be made shall be to the Court of Appeal and not to the court below.

“It’s not for this court to remove the carpet from the foot of the Court of Appeal. It will be an affront to the authority of the Court of Appeal,” Ozekhome said. He further argued that the lower court ceases to have jurisdiction once an appeal is entered and records transferred.

“It’s the law that once a party to a matter has filed an appeal and the records of proceedings transferred, the lower court ought to wash its hands off the case like Pontius Pilate.

The Supreme Court said it’ll amount to judicial impertinence to entertain the matter when there’s a motion pending at the appeal court. It’ll amount to
embarking on an illegal judicial voyage of discovery,” he said.

Ruling, Justice Olatoregun held that it would be in the interest of justice to await the Court of Appeal decision.

“I have seen the hearing notice issued by the Court of Appeal. I believe it will be in the interest of justice for parties to ventilate their views at the Court of Appeal. I will, therefore, adjourn this case until
September 20.”