The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s ongoing investigations of wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, have not constituted any violation of her rights.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice John Tsoho, in giving the EFCC a go-ahead to continue and conclude its ongoing investigations, struck out the fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by the former First Lady against the anti-graft agency.
“On that score, it could be said that the steps taken by the respondent are based on reasonable suspicion of the applicant having committed an offence.”
Patience had in her suit filed on June 30, 2017, sought N2bn as compensation for alleged harassment by the anti-graft agency.
She alleged in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/586/2017 that EFCC violated her rights by incessantly harassing her through negative media publications.
She alleged that the EFCC was denigrating and degrading her person as corrupt, without any invitation for interrogation, trial or conviction.
But the judge held that none of the allegations levelled by her could be sustained.
In dismissing the applicant’s contention that the ongoing investigation by the EFCC should have been concluded, Justice Tsoho cited a judgment of the Court of Appeal in holding that the law did not limit the time within which the agency must conclude criminal investigations.
“The implication of this, in this case is that as much as the learned counsel to the applicant are anxious about the conclusion of investigation by the respondent (EFCC), the law does not limit the period of investigation.
“It is however commendable that the process takes as short as possible time.
“In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s case is not sustained.”
He held that the former First Lady was not entitled to any of the prayers sought.
The judge ruled, “Having held that the applicant’s case is not made out, I further hold that the applicant is not entitled to any of the relief sought in this application.
“The applicant’s suit is consequently struck out.”
__________
Follow us on Twitter at @thesignalng
Copyright 2018 SIGNAL. Permission to use portions of this article is granted provided appropriate credits are given to www.signalng.com and other relevant sources.
