The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reportedly
uncovered an uncompleted eight-storey building allegedly belonging to Patience
Jonathan, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.
The magnificent edifice, located within the Central Business
District, is between the National Mosque and the Federal Secretariat, Punch
reports.
The ex-First Lady allegedly acquired the property through
her foundation known as Aribawa Aurera Reach Out Foundation.
In a document, which has been attached to a court
application, the anti-graft agency said it had written to the Corporate Affairs
Commission to get the identities of the directors of the foundation who are
believed to be fronts for Patience.
The anti-graft agency has also written eight banks: Skye
Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, Union Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank,
United Bank for Africa and Unity Bank.
The document read, “Plot 1350 Cadastral Zone A00 CBD which
was allocated to Ariwabai Aurera Reach Out Foundation in 2010 and Certificate
of Occupancy issued in 2011. The plot bears an eight-storey building still
under construction.
“Inference may be drawn from investigation that the
suspect’s (Patience) last known official position was permanent secretary in
Bayelsa State. Hence, there is no way such magnificent architectural edifices
could have been built within a short space of time.
“There is a high probability that it could have been built
with the proceeds of crime. It is evidently clear that it is a case of money
laundering but there is a need to do more investigation.”
“In view of the foregoing, I request for an interim
forfeiture order on the two properties amongst others linked to the suspect and
believed to have been acquired from the proceeds of crime.
“This is particularly very important because attempts to
mark the properties were resisted and even the portion that was successfully
marked was later cleaned off by the agents of the suspect.”
By Ameh Comrade Godwin
