The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has ordered six commercial banks to unfreeze the accounts of former first lady, Patience Jonathan.
The committee chaired by Uzoma Nkem-Abonta (Abia-PDP), gave the directive on Tuesday in Abuja at a hearing on a petition by Mrs. Jonathan.Mrs Jonathan had written the House of Representatives alleging that the EFCC was after her for no reason.
The EFCC had alleged that the funds in the accounts were proceeds of corruption.
The affected banks:
Union Bank, First Bank, EcoBank, Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank and Skye Bank.
The panel’s directive:
- The committee said the EFCC can only give such directive if the court ordered the freezing of the accounts.
“Until EFCC proves otherwise, I’ll ask you to remove the precautionary restriction on the account. Let me tell you, whatever you’ll do, you must follow the law. A bank can’t hold a legal entity to ransom.
“I want to order all other banks that all the accounts that have no specific pending order from the courts, please release them,’’ the committee chairman said.
- Ibrahim Magu, the EFCC acting Chairman has up to October 4 to appear before it or have arrest warrant issued against him.
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