Unic Press UK: The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed an appeal brought before it by the wife of former president Goodluck Jonathan, Patience Jonathan, with regard to a forfeiture order of $8.4 million (₦3,03 billion) made against her by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State.
In a unanimous decision read by Judge Ejembi Eko, a panel of five justices of the supreme court (JSC), Kumai Akaahs, Ejembi Eko, John Okoro, Sidi Bage and Dattijo Mahammad ruled that: “The panel has weighed the arguments canvassed by the parties and is convinced that the appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed. The appellant should go back to the trial court and show cause why the forfeiture order should not be made permanent,” the News Agency of Nigeria reported.
After the forfeiture order was made by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Patience approached the Court of Appeal. She lost. Then, she filed an appeal in the apex court, Supreme Court of Nigeria, and lost again.
The Federal High Court had granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) application for a forfeiture order on the grounds that the money could be proceeds of crime.
