…As Johannesburg Mayor gives govt ultimatum over illegal immigrants***
The Wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, on Thursday asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to set aside an order which froze her bank accounts containing $5.8 million and N3.5 billion.
Patience asked the court to set aside the order it made on May, 30 on the grounds that it had expired and could not be extended.
Patience plea came as another order obtained by government from the Lagos Division of the court, directed the managers of Skye Bank, Ecobank PLC , Fidelity Bank PLC, Stanbic IBTC PLC, Zenith Bank PLC, and Diamond Bank PLC to in the interim ,freeze Jonathan’s accounts.
The former first lady told the court, through her counsel, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN) that the order of interim forfeiture, including the one issued on Oct. 10 had been “spent and could not be extended.’’
According to her, the original order was obtained by an improper use of court process by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
She said in a deposition filed in court, that the Incorporated Trustees of Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation, nine other companies and herself were the owners of the money.
Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Richard Dauda, had earlier told the court that he had filed an application seeking to extend the interim order of forfeiture.
The judge, Justice Binta Nyako adjourned the matter until Nov. 23 for hearing.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, had on May 30, granted an ex-parte order in favour of the Federal Government against all the accounts owned and operated by Jonathan and her companies.
Another order was obtained by government from the Lagos Division of the court, directing the managers of Skye Bank, Ecobank PLC , Fidelity Bank PLC, Stanbic IBTC PLC, Zenith Bank PLC, and Diamond Bank PLC to in the interim ,freeze Jonathan’s accounts.
The banks were also directed to attach the various sums of money in the accounts belonging to the former first lady, Finchley Top Homes Limited and Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation.
In the meantime, the City of Johannesburg has given the South African Department of Home Affairs an ultimatum to produce a plan to address illegal migration by Nov. 24.
Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba issued the ultimatum on Thursday demanding Home Affairs Minister Ayanda Dlodlo to produce specific measures, plans and interventions about illegal migrants.
“The minister has until Nov. 24, 2017 to respond.
“Failing which the City will have no option but to pursue the matter through our courts, as undocumented migrants, many of these people make it past our borders and many are forced to live in the fringes of our society in the shadows and with limited protection.
“It is essential that the national government clean up its act and ensure that it takes appropriate steps aimed at the identification and processing of illegal immigrants who reach the city,’’ said Mashaba.
Mashaba said the police have arrested 267 illegal immigrants in 11 raids.
Many immigrants are forced into the city and country by social, political and economic factors in their countries.
He also demanded that the national government issue the deserving immigrants with the necessary papers.
