A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday ordered the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC to unfreeze the account of former First Lady Patience Jonathan.

The EFCC had in November 2016 filed an application before the court, seeking an order freezing the account.

The commission had contended that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

The account is said to harbour the sum of $5.8 million.

On Thursday at the resumed hearing of the case, the court issued an order unfreezing the account following an application filed and argued before the court by her lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe, who led a team of lawyers.

Mr. Adedipe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had urged the court to unfreeze Mrs. Jonathan’s account on the grounds that she was not a party in the suit leading to the freezing order.

Citing judicial authorities, Mr. Adedipe contended that the suit was an abuse of court process as the court had no

jurisdiction to make an order against one who is not a party in a suit filed before the court.

In her ruling, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun upheld the submissions of Mr. Adedipe and consequently, discharged the order freezing the account.

The former first lady then sued the EFCC after the agency froze the bank accounts containing a total of $15 million, which she claims belong to her.

She is demanding $200 million from the commission as damages for infringing on her rights.

She also wants an order restraining the EFCC from taking further steps in relation to the said accounts. (TV360 Nigeria)

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