$15m Corruption Scandal: Former First Lady Patience Jonathan Moves To Cage SERAP

• The wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience, has moved to head off court processes filed by a civil society group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), seeking her prosecution over a suspicious sum of $15million linked to her bank accounts.

Patience-faka-Jonathan

The wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience, has moved to head off court processes filed by a civil society group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), seeking her prosecution over a suspicious sum of $15million linked to her bank accounts.

She has herself filed a suit accusing SERAP of a “campaign of calumny” through its use of online, print and electronic media “to publish to the public unfounded and malicious allegations that she stole $15m (US) and ought to be prosecuted.” She also wants SERAP’s suit seeking her prosecution to be shelved.

Dame Patience’s legal action was made public in a statement by SERAP on Thursday.

The group’s Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said in the statement: “On  October 18th 2016, at about 3p.m., we received court papers dated 6th October 2016 from a bailiff. The papers indicate that one Union of Niger Delta Youth Organization for Equity, Justice and Good Governance, suing for themselves and on behalf of Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan, filed a suit number FHC/L/CS/1349/2016 before a Federal High Court in Lagos against SERAP.

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“The court papers also indicate a prayer for an order of interim injunction restraining SERAP from taking any further steps in further vilification, condemnation and conviction of the former First Lady, Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan, in all public media and in the use of the judicial process for that purpose by the extremely publicized pursuit of any application for the coercion of the Attorney-General of the Federation to prosecute the Plaintiff/Applicant for owning legitimate private property, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Summons.”

Mumuni confirmed that SERAP had earlier filed an action against the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, seeking Dame Patience’s prosecution for her allegedly unexplained wealth of $15m. He added in Thursday’s statement that the former First Lady’s suit is “seeking an order directing SERAP to stay all action and to desist forthwith from proceeding against Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan with any process whatsoever, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Summons.”

But he insisted the group would not be cowed: “SERAP categorically rejects these misleading and entirely unfounded accusations against us by Mrs. Patience Jonathan and her group, and we will vigorously oppose the suit in court. SERAP will never, in the discharge of its mandates, succumb to any intimidation, harassment and attacks in any way, shape or form. We are now consulting with our lawyers and will be preparing shortly our defence in court.”

Mumuni added: “At no time did SERAP suggest or even hint that Mrs. Jonathan was guilty of the allegations against her. On the contrary, what SERAP has said is that the fact that the $15m found in the four accounts belongs to Mrs. Jonathan raises serious suspicion, or at the very least a prima-facie case of unexplained wealth/illicit enrichment, and imposes an obligation on Mrs. Jonathan to explain and justify the source(s) of the $15m.

“To be sure, SERAP is not engaged in any campaign against Mrs. Jonathan or any other politically exposed persons for that matter. Our suit was filed against the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, and not Mrs. Jonathan. It’s a joke to accuse SERAP of trying to coerce the Attorney-General to perform his constitutional duty, as this is for the court to decide.”