Court fixes date for Patience Jonathan’s final forfeiture hearing

Justice Tijani Ringim fixed the date, after ruling on the arguments canvassed by counsel to parties in the suit.

The order was vigorously challenged up to Supreme Court. But the Supreme Court ordered that the lower court should continue with the hearing of the matter.

At the resumed hearing of the matter today, counsel La Wari Furniture and Baths Limited, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), leading Ige Asemudara, told the court that his client has two pending applications before the court, one of the applications, is seeking to stay proceedings on the suit, based on its pending appeal. While the second application was for the matter to start denovo (afresh).

Also, Mr Sammie A. Somiari (SAN) counsel to Patience Jonathan, aligned himself with the submission of Ozekhome (SAN).

But counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) vehemently opposed the applications, saying that the court’s business of the day was to hear the application seeking final forfeiture of the money.

Justice Ringim, after taking arguments from counsel, acceded to the EFCC’s lawyer submissions.

Consequently, by the agreement of the counsel, Justice Ringim adjourned till March 28, for hearing the application for final forfeiture of the money.