The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has vowed to nail ex first lady Patience Dame Jonathan who had filed a lawsuit against the organization.
She alleges that the non-governmental organisation embarked
on a ‘campaign of calumny’ against her person.
on a ‘campaign of calumny’ against her person.
The suit was filed before a Federal High Court sitting in
Lagos, through a youth organisation – ‘Union of Niger Delta Youth Organization
for Equity, Justice and Good Governance.’
Lagos, through a youth organisation – ‘Union of Niger Delta Youth Organization
for Equity, Justice and Good Governance.’
The organisation, according to the suit, is suing for itself
and on behalf of Mrs Jonathan.
and on behalf of Mrs Jonathan.
It accused SERAP of making use of the online, print and
electronic media to publish unfounded and malicious allegations against the
ex-first lady that she stole $15 million.
electronic media to publish unfounded and malicious allegations against the
ex-first lady that she stole $15 million.
Reacting to the suit, SERAP says it is ready for the legal
battle against the ex-first lady.
battle against the ex-first lady.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 20, by the
Executive Director of SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group described the move
against it as intimidation and harassment.
Executive Director of SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group described the move
against it as intimidation and harassment.
“SERAP will never, in the discharge of its mandates,
succumb to any intimidation, harassment and attacks in any way, shape or
form,” the statement said.
succumb to any intimidation, harassment and attacks in any way, shape or
form,” the statement said.
SERAP had repeatedly demanded the Federal Government to
prosecute Mrs Jonathan following the revelation by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) that large sums of money stashed in various bank
accounts, amounting to $15 million, were traced to her.
prosecute Mrs Jonathan following the revelation by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) that large sums of money stashed in various bank
accounts, amounting to $15 million, were traced to her.
The human rights advocacy group even went further to sue the
government for failing to initiate criminal charges against the ex-first lady
over the funds believed to have been acquired fraudulently.
government for failing to initiate criminal charges against the ex-first lady
over the funds believed to have been acquired fraudulently.
But the youth group representing Mrs Jonathan claimed she
acquired the $15 million legitimately – it was said to be an accumulation of
gifts from her friends and well-wishers over the last 15 years.
acquired the $15 million legitimately – it was said to be an accumulation of
gifts from her friends and well-wishers over the last 15 years.
“She had been saving in order to utilize to upgrade
family businesses and concerns which had been somewhat dormant by reason of the
long period of her husband service as a public officer in Nigeria,” the
group said in a previous statement.
family businesses and concerns which had been somewhat dormant by reason of the
long period of her husband service as a public officer in Nigeria,” the
group said in a previous statement.
The ex-First Lady had also claimed, in a suit against the
EFCC in which she demanded the release of her frozen bank accounts, that some
of the funds were meant for her medical bill.
EFCC in which she demanded the release of her frozen bank accounts, that some
of the funds were meant for her medical bill.
