With N700,000 salary monthly as a Permanent
Secretary, the ex-First Lady, Dame Patience
Jonathan would have to explain how she
allegedly acquired nine houses, two hotels and
one plaza during the tenure of her husband, Dr
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
The anti-graft commission has retrieved her
monthly salary records and other allowances
accruable to a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa
State.
But the pay package, EFCC sources told THE
NATION, does not seem to tally with the
properties credited to the ex-First Lady.
Although she allegedly claimed that the
$15million in her accounts was a gift, the EFCC
might demand records of those who showered
her with the cash gift.
It was unclear as at press time whether or not
the EFCC will seize the affected properties in
line with Assets Forfeiture Clause in its 2004
Establishment Act.
Preliminary investigation had linked the
following assets to the former First Lady: Port
Harcourt —— Former Customs Service officers
mess; two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street;
landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street;
3 Luxury apartments of 4-bedroom each at
Ambowei Street; and Grand View Hotel along
airport road.
Others in Yenagoa are two marble duplexes at
Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway; Glass
House along Sani Abacha Expressway which is
housing Nigerian Content Development and
Monitoring Board; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP
filling Station, Melford Okilo Road; and Aridolf
Resort, Wellness and Spa along Sani Abacha
Expressway.
Detectives were however said to be probing if
the affected assets were declared to the Code
of Conduct Bureau by Mrs. Jonathan as a
former Permanent Secretary.
The Bureau said her assets declaration form
was in its office in Bayelsa State and not Abuja.
Findings by our correspondent showed that
detectives of the EFCC have intensified the
ongoing probe of the former First Lady.
A reliable source said: “Our operatives are still
going ahead with the investigation of the former
First Lady.
“So far, our detectives have retrieved her pay
slip which showed that after all deductions, she
was on monthly salary of N700,000. It is left to
her to justify how the salary was able to fetch
her assets.
“We demanded for her pay status in line with
Section 7 of the EFCC Act. She was a former
Permanent Secretary, who earned salary at the
end of the month. She managed public trust
and she has to account for it.
“We will also look into her assets declaration
forms when she assumed office and after she
left. If these assets are pleaded, we will proceed
to the next stage of our investigation.”
Section 7 of the EFCC Act says: “The
commission has power to (a) cause any
investigations to be conducted as to whether
any person, corporate body or organization has
committed any offence under this Act or other
law relating to economic and financial crimes.
“(b) Cause investigations to be conducted into
the properties of any person if it appears to the
commission that the person’s lifestyle and
extent of the properties are not justified by his
source of income.”
Asked if the assets will be seized, the source
added: “We are yet to get to this bend of
investigation.
