The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has failed in its bid to convict four companies linked to Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A statement by the companies’ lawyer, Mike Ozekhome SAN, said the Court of Appeal delivered the judgment today during a virtual (zoom) court session with attendance restricted to only parties and their counsel.
The lawyer said that Justice Chidiebere Uwa, who read the lead judgment, also held that the convictions of the four companies breached the constitutional provisions on fair hearing.
Justice Tunde Awotoye and Justice James Abundaga who sat with her were said to have agreed with the lead judgment.
The EFCC had alleged that the companies were incorporated for warehousing proceeds of unlawful activities for Mrs Jonathan.
The commission had dragged a lawyer who acted as their Secretary, Amajuoyi Briggs, a Skye bank official, Adedamola Bolodeoku, and an aide to the former president, Waripamo Dudafa, before a Federal High court sitting in Lagos.
The firms, Trans-ocean Property & Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development & Investment Ltd, Pluto Property & Investment Company Ltd and Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd had pleaded guilty to the offense before Justice Babs Kuewumi on Nov. 2, 2016.
However, through their lawyers Ozekhome & Ige Asemudara, the companies challenged the validity of the plea, insisting that the EFCC in desperation brought certain individuals who had confessed that they knew nothing about the companies.
But the move to challenge their pleas of guilt at the trial court failed and they subsequently approached the Court of Appeal.
In its judgment today, the Court of Appeal set aside the conviction of the four companies and held it to be a nullity having been done in gross disregard of statutory and constitutional provisions.
The lawyers present at the virtual court session were Ige Asemudara Esq who represented all the companies alongside Ejieke Onuoha and Azubuike Solomon Akpe while Rotimi Oyedepo and Abbas Mohammed appeared for the EFCC.##
