The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan lacked the wherewithal to genuinely earn the $15.5 million she has been laying claim to.
The anti-graft body said that instead the funds were stolen from the Federal Government and its agencies between 2013 and 2015.
The body named the agencies as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
The EFCC said that she did not run any profit yielding business that could have earned her such a huge sum, adding that she was the wife of a president, civil servant and a retired permanent secretary in Bayelsea State.
The body made this known in its defence to a suit challenging the freezing order on the account of some companies whose funds Jonathan claimed.
“There is no way the plaintiff (Mrs Jonathan) could have genuinely earned the monies. She is the wife of the former president, a civil servant and a retired permanent secretary in Bayelsa State.
“She does not run any profit and interest yielding business venture to generate such money.
“Investigation conducted by the first defendant (EFCC) revealed that the plaintiff is not the owner of the funds in the accounts of the third to fifth defendants (companies), which funds were discovered to be proceeds of fraudulent activities of Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel Dudafa,” the EFCC said.
Jonathan sued the EFCC, Skye Bank Plc and three companies – Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd and Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd, praying the court to restrain the respondents from tampering with the over $15.5 million in Skye Bank which belong to her.
Mrs Jonathan is also accusing the EFCC of trying to take over her money using different means, including the freezing order.
The case, which is being presided over by Justice Mohammed Idris, will be heard on January 19.
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