Nigerians advise President Buhari with probe of Jonathan, Patience
- Following the fresh accusations against Patience Jonathan over $20m Nigerians commence arguing whether Buhari government should probe his predecessor and his wife
- While some of them believe that Buhari should probe everyone who is found to be corrupt, other say that it’s not a big deal, supposing that incumbent leader is spending more money
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) might be investigating the former First Lady Patience Jonathan over $20m the total amount so far traced to her in investigations into a money laundering case.
Ex-president’s wife admitted having the account after it was reportedly frozen by the anti-graft agency in July 2016 after a money laundering case against Waripamowei Dudafa, Jonathan’s aide.
The EFCC source recently disclosed that the former first lady wasn't the initial target of the probe but after her admittance to owning the accounts, she has got questions to answer.
READ ALSO: Patience Jonathan linked to $20m financial scandal
The Punch has asked some prominent Nigerians should FG probe ex-president Jonathan and his wife Patience over $20m.
Yusuf Ali (Senior Advocate of Nigeria) said: “Of course, the government can probe anybody. For me, probing the former president, Goodluck Jonathan, and his wife, Patience, is not a big deal. If they are able to defend themselves, it is okay. Otherwise, the law should take its course. Anytime the government is suspicious of an individual, the person involved should be invited for questioning.”
Osita Ogbu (Professor of Law/Director, Centre for Advancement of Democracy & Rule of Law): “Besides the millions of dollar that have been traced to Patience Jonathan, the Federal Government has the power to investigate anybody. A mere suspicion is enough to probe Mrs. Jonathan just like any other person much less the fact that a huge amount of money has been traced to her.
The foreign account saga means that Jonathan and his wife should be probed. Mrs. Jonathan was promoted to the position of permanent secretary during the Jonathan administration. That was the highest office she held. How much did all her salaries amount to? Where could the money have come from? Was her wealth declared as of when her husband was elected as President?”
Auwal Musa (Board Chairman, Amnesty International, Nigeria) shares his views: “Anybody caught with suspicious money should be able to explain the source of the money. In this, it is coincidental that the money belongs to Mrs. Jonathan.
What is important now is to investigate the sources of the money. There is the need for a thorough investigation to know the sources of the money and when it was lodged in the accounts. If the wife of the former president is able to convince the law enforcement agencies that the money was genuinely earned, there is no issue about it.”
READ ALSO: $15m: Patience Jonathan’s houseboy, driver arrested by EFCC
Nigerians through different social media also reacted to probable probe of former president and his wife:
Source: Legit.ng
