A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has struck out the suit filed by
Former First lady, Patience Jonathan, against anti-corruption
organization, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project SERAP,
over allegations of “vilification and breach of human rights”.
The former first lady Mrs Jonathan filed the suit in October last year after the group
petitioned the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the
Federation, Abubakar Malami, calling for the prosecution of Mrs Jonathan
after $15 million was found in four controversial accounts which she
laid claim to.
According to the court papers filed by the Union of Niger Delta Youth
Organization for Equity, Justice and Good Governance on Mrs Jonathan’s
behalf, the $15 million found in the accounts linked to the former
first lady, were contributions of gifts she had gathered in her years in
government with her husband.
The court paper stated that she had intended to use the said money to
revive her families dormant businesses.
At the hearing of the case yesterday, counsels to Mrs Jonathan, said
they were no longer interested in pursuing the case and asked for
withdrawal.
Counsel to SERAP did not object to the application for withdrawal and
asked the court to order the former first lady’s counsels to pay them
N500,000.
The presiding judge, Justice Justice C.M.A Olatoregun struck out the
case and awarded N25,000 as cost to SERAP.