The chairman of the presidential advisory committee on corruption explains that the EFCC has the right to probe the former first lady

Professor Itse Sagay has said that Patience Jonathan must explain how she came about to own $5m after the former first lady admitted that the money was hers. Nigeria’s ex-first lady cried out over her $31.4 million being tied down by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Guardian reports that the account is being fingered as one of those involved in an alleged fraud case before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos but Mrs Jonathan’s counsel, Gboyega Oduwole has filed a case before the court, informing that his client is unhappy with the EFCC over the recent move to freeze the account.

Amajuoyi Azubike Briggs, an ex-presidential aide; Damola Bolodeoku, a former Skye Bank official; Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited had all been charged to court over their individual involvement in the fraudulent activities with companies without address.

Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited and Globus Integrated Services Limited were also charged with the same offence.

Mrs Jonathan, is however, not taking any of those accusations and allegations as she is seeking a court order to enforce her basic human rights as it agrees with reliefs she sought, while also naming EFCC and Skye bank as defendants. According to the report, she wants the court to rule that the monies found with the four companies and another account in her name with a Skye Bank are all hers.

Consequently, the former president’s wife demanded a court declaration that the respondents have breached her fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic by placing a ‘Freezing Order’ on the said accounts without any court order or prior notice to her.

The Punch reports that Sagay who is the head of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption explained the Act establishing the EFCC gave provided the power to investigate anybody who is seen to have more wealth than he ought to have.

He said: “The EFCC and ICPC Act have provisions under which they can ask the court to freeze the account of a person if a person’s capacity to earn is below the amount of money that the person appears to have. “If you are living a lavish lifestyle and it appears you don’t have the means to have acquired the property and the wealth you have, the EFCC is free to probe you. “If she is claiming the money belongs to her, she has put herself in a position where she must explain how she earned it.”