Socio-Economic
Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Attorney-General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, a 7 Day ultimatum to
prosecute former First lady, Patience Jonathan over $15m found in the
accounts
of four companies owned by her which is currently under investigation for
fraud.
DailyTrust reports
that the anti-corruption agency in a letter dated September 13th and signed by
its executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, asked the Minister of Justice to
prosecute the former first lady within 7 days of the receipt of its letter,
failing which SERAP will institute legal proceedings to compel the discharge of
constitutional duty in this matter.” The letter in part reads
“Under article 20 of
the convention, this government has an obligation to prosecute intentional
illicit enrichment, that is, a significant increase in the assets of a public
official that he or she cannot reasonably explain in relation to his or her
lawful income. The fact that the $15m found in the four accounts belong 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. In the event that
she is not able to justify, explain or put forth evidence demonstrating the
legitimate origin of the $15m, SERAP urges you to take immediate steps to
forfeit the asset under appropriate legal proceedings, and to institute
criminal prosecution for unexplained wealth in the matter. Similarly, section
44 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act criminalises
unexplained or illicit wealth and allows criminal penalties and forfeiture if
in the course of an investigation there are reasonable grounds to believe that
a corruption offence has been committed, that is, the failure to explain the
origin of the $15m given present or past emoluments, and other relevant
circumstances.
Mrs Jonathan has admitted that the four accounts belong to her
and that she is the sole signatory to these accounts.
The four accounts in
which Mrs Jonathan’s $15m was lodged are said to belong to the following
companies: Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property
Development and Investment Company Limited, Trans Ocean Property and Investment
Company Limited and Globus Integrated Service Limited. Mrs Jonathan was given a
platinum card and exclusive access to the accounts.
According to reports, a
houseboy, a driver and other domestic workers of a former Special Adviser on
Domestic Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamowei Dudafa,
were named as directors.”
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