Mrs Jonathan runs to Reps for protection from EFCC

Nigerian former First Lady and wife of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, has sought the intervention of the House of Representatives in her case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mrs Jonathan on Wednesday laid before the lower House, a petition complaining that her fundamental human rights have been infringed upon by the commission. The pettition was submitted by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member of the House from Delta State, Mr. Lovette Idisi, on behalf of Jonathan’s wife.

According to her, the document was however signed by youth groups from six ethnic groups in the country comprising, the Ijaw Youth Council; Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council; Ndokwa Youth Council; Arewa Consultative Forum; Yoruba Youth Council; and the Middle Belt Youth Council.

She said while submitting the petition that under the Nigerian constitution, that a mere accusation is never seen and treated as guilt until a proper conviction by a competent court of law is carried out. “This petition is in line with Section 36 where every citizen is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Mr. Speaker, the constant harassment of the former first lady is in a petition emanating from her that was sent to my office.

“With the leave of the House, I seek your permission to lay the petition before the House,” she said. After hearing her complaints, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, referred the petition to the House Committee on Public Petitions for hearing.

The groups in the petition on behalf of Patience, had argued that  the EFCC had frozen her accounts and those of some of her close associates on account of corruption allegations, adding that some of the affected associates were not under investigation by the EFCC and yet, the commission still froze their accounts.
This matter is already in court.