By EFCC Traces More Assets To Former First Lady, Patience Jonathan
Nigeria’s leading anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in its investigations has traced more choice properties to the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. It was reported that the properties may have been acquired using proceeds of fraud earlier linked to Mrs Jonathan.
A fresh reports by the agency reveals that the new discovery now puts all the properties linked to her to 15 house. Most of them were reportedly bought using proxy firms.
Such firms were used to secure six priced plots located at Central Business District (CBD), Wasa District, Idogwa District, Karsana and Mabushi, all in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. See below for the fresh list of properties linked to her…
1. 1758, Cadastral zone B06, Mabushi, which was allocated to Ariwabai Aurera Reachout Foundation in 2010;
2. 96, Cadastral Zone D05, Karsana, allocated to AM-PM Global Network Limited vide a letter of intent dated 31/05/2012;
3. 7109, Cadastral Zone E10, Wasa District, allocated to AM-PM Global Network Limited vide a letter of intent dated 27/03/2013;
4. 30, Cadasrtal Zone D03, Idogwari District (AM-PM Global Network Limited vide a letter of intent dated 23/10/2014);
5. 1758, Cadastral zone B06, Mabushi (Ariwabai Aurera Reachout Foundation vide a Right of Occupancy in 2010); and
6. 1350 Cadastral Zone A00, Central Business District, which was allocated to Ariwabai Aurera Reach Out Foundation in 2010. The Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) was issued in 2011.
EFCC said the assets were allegedly bought through three firms: Ariwabai Aurera Reachout Foundation; Finchley Top Homes Limited; and AM-PM Network Limited. It is carrying out the probe through a special task force. The agency also believe that seven banks played major roles in acquisition of the assets and they are also being investigated.
According to a top EFCC source, “A Special Task Force is looking into how Mrs Jonathan allegedly laundered huge sums of money into the accounts of three companies. These shell firms were in turn used to acquire some plots of land and properties suspected to be proceeds of crime.”
“We have already written to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and seven banks linked with the plots of land and the two properties. Apart from the statements of account of the three companies, our team is in touch with Abuja Geographical Information Service(AGIS) for information about some properties linked to the affected firms,” the report quoted as revealing.
“We discovered that on Plot No. 1758 Cadastral zone B06 Mabushi, which was allocated to Ariwabai Aurera Reachout Foundation in 2010 and C of O issued in 2011, eight mighty buildings are being built. Most people believe it is proposed to be a hotel.”
“Also, Plot No. 1350, Cadastral Zone A00 in Central Business District, currently bears an eight-storey building still under construction. The plot was allocated to Ariwabai Aurera Reachout Foundation in 2010 and C of O issued in 2011.
“Inference may be drawn from the above, considering the fact that the suspect’s last known official position was permanent secretary in the Bayelsa state government. Hence, there is no way such magnificent architectural edifices could have been built within a short space of time as it is the case with the properties in question.”
“It is evidently clear that it is a case of money laundering but there is need to do more to prove the predicate of the offence.”
The source added that EFCC was seeking a forfeiture of the assets, saying, “This is particularly very important because attempt to mark the properties, by operatives, was resisted and even the portion that was successfully marked was later cleared by agents of the suspect.”
As it stands now, the 15 assets allegedly traced to the former first lady in Port Harcourt are former Customs Service officers mess; two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street; landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; three Luxury apartments of four-bedroom each at Ambowei Street; and Grand View Hotel along airport road.
In Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, she has been linked to two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway; Glass House on Sani Abacha Expressway, which is housing Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP filling Station, Melford Okilo Road; and Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa along Sani Abacha Expressway.
