The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, have accused
former First Lady Patience Jonathan, of using her late mother's company
to launder about N2.114b. According to the Nation, a source at the
anti-graft agency who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the company,
Magel Resort Limited, allegedly secured over N200m IT contract from the
National Information Technology Development Agency.
There are allegations that some domestic aides of the former First
Lady remitted about N5.7billion into the accounts of three firms linked
to Mrs. Jonathan. As part of the investigation, some Federal Government
agencies were found to have remitted funds into the account of Ariwobai
Aruera Reach Out Foundation, her NGO, which has
N2,475,784,487.77. Detectives put the cash in the two domiciliary
accounts of the ex-First Lady at $20,731, 173. Speaking on the latest
discoveries, the EFCC detective said
“This is not a case of witch-hunt or vendetta. We have retrieved
records of transactions and those concerned. There is a strong case of
abuse of office. Nigerians should prevail on Mrs. Jonathan to seek
equity with clean hands by subjecting herself to legal process. How did
domestic aides come about billions? Why will a resort company secure an
IT contract? How did a furniture firm without a fixed address come about
N1.140billion? As we investigate the ex-First Lady, our detectives dig
out more evidence of alleged money laundering by her between 2009 and
2015.”
The source gave an insight into the latest findings by detectives on Mrs. Patience Jonathan.
“A company owned by Mrs. Jonathan is Magel Resort Ltd. It was
incorporated by Mrs. Jonathan’s late mother. But Patience Jonathan
became the sole signatory to the account of the company by board
resolution upon the demise of her mother. The EFCC is probing the
circumstance in which the firm though registered as a resort agency
secured over N200m IT contract from the National Information Technology
Development Agency. The contract was allegedly funded through the
National Information Technology Development Fund.”
Several other persons under investigation for money laundering by the
anti-graft agency were discovered to have made payments into the
company’s account. Some of them, including an hotelier in central area,
Abuja, have been invited for questioning.
“The total sum allegedly laundered through the account of Magel
Resorts Ltd run by Mrs. Jonathan and her late mother is
N2.114billion. Also allegedly laundered by the former First Lady through
the account of Lawari Furniture and Baths Ltd is N1.140billion. The
company’s address is given as 100 Akamfa Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The bulk of the money was deposited by Bureau de Change operators. The
BDC operators have already been invited by the EFCC for questioning".
EFCC sources said that the addresses of most of the companies were
discovered to be fictitious as mails sent to them were returned
undelivered.
Ariwobai Aruera Reach Out Foundation, an NGO, was discovered to have
various accounts but the principal account is domiciled in Diamond Bank.
“The commission stumbled on evidence in which several government
agencies made payments into the account. A total inflow of N2,
475,784,487.77 was recorded in the account between 2009 and 2015.”
The source also spoke about the deposits in the domiciliary accounts of the ex-First Lady.
“Investigation equally discovered that Mrs. Jonathan maintains a
dollar account with Diamond Bank which received huge financial inflow
from her domestic aides. Some of the domestic aides that made payments
into the accounts are also trustees of her so- called NGO and director
in her companies. The balance in the account was $12,831,173. Another
dollar account of the former First Lady was discovered in Skye Bank.
Inflows into the account came through deposits by domestic aides of Mrs.
Jonathan. Intelligence reports indicate that most of the purchase of
luxury items by the former First Lady was through the Platinum Card of
the account. The total amount in the account is $7.9m. Also under
investigation is how N1.8billion was deposited in the account of
Flinchley Top Homes Ltd, a company linked to Mrs. Jonathan, by her
domestic aides between 2009 and 2015. Other discoveries are the
N2.1billion and N1.8billion deposited into the accounts of AM PM Global
Network Ltd and Pagmat Oil and Gas Ltd, between 2009 and 2015. Both
companies are linked to the former First Lady,” the source said.
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