The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday withdrew its application for stay of execution of the court order which unfroze the account which former first lady, Patience Jonathan, operates with Skye Bank that has a balance of $5.9m.
Approaching the Federal High Court in Lagos which had on April 6 unfroze the account of former president Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, stated that the anti-graft agency has changed its mind about appealing the unfreezing order.
He then told the presiding judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, that the EFCC was withdrawing its application that had sought to stay the execution of the order.
In his response, the lawyer to Patience, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe, confirmed being served with the application by the commission to withdraw its application for stay of proceedings.
He stated that in view of the action of the EFCC, he would equally withdraw the Form 48 and Form 49 he filed to cite Skye Bank for contempt of court for not allowing Patience access to her account in spite of the court order.
The presiding judge, after listening to both parties, granted the prayers of both the EFCC and Adedipe to withdraw their respective applications.
With the development, the coast is now clear for the former first lady to have access to her account with Skye Bank Plc, where she lodged $5. 842, 316. 66.
Recall that last year, Justice Olatoregun had at the instance of the EFCC made an interim order freezing multiple accounts linked to Patience.
The order was pursuant to an ex parte application by the EFCC, wherein one of its operatives, Abdulahi Tukur, told the judge that the funds retained in the said accounts were suspected proceeds of crime.