Patience Jonathan explains why she withdrew cash from her account

Former first lady, Dame Patience
Jonathan has explained why she
withdrew $100,000 from her unblocked
Skye Bank account recently.
According to Daily Trust, Dame
Jonathan made the clarification through
her solicitor, Barrister Charles Ogboli.
The former first lady, said she never
wanted to withdraw all the money, but
just to ensure compliance to the order
of court.

Ogboli said: “She wanted to withdraw
$5 million on Friday but unfortunately
there was no funds and they (the bank)
pleaded with her that she can withdraw
$100,000 in order to comply with the
order of court. They have complied fully
with the order of court.
“Therefore the Notice of Appeal (by the
EFCC) came late. The Notice and Stay of
Execution is a mere application. And we
are talking of court order.
“Appeal has not been entered yet;
records have not been transferred from
the lower court to the Court of Appeal.
In the Administration of Criminal Justice
Act, by mere fact that you have an
appeal against a proceeding, it does not
stop the trial from going on. That was
what they were acting upon.
“Unfortunately for them, the order has
been executed. Even when you move the
motion it is an exercise in futility. So we
are going to court to respond to
whatever they filed. The issue is that she
went to the bank and applied and
account was debited with $100,000.”
Patience Jonathan exiting the bank premises
after making the withdrawal
The legal practitioner noted that there
were no challenges for the former first
lady to withdraw from her account,
adding that she was not in any pressure
to withdraw all the money.
He stated that the money was for her
medical treatment.
“Mrs Jonathan is a law-abiding citizens
and she has not done anything which is
ultra vires to the laws of the land,” he
added.

It was reported that the former
first lady on Monday, April 10 visited
the Skye Bank Plc branch in Maitama,
Abuja to make cash withdrawal from
her unblocked account.
Mrs Jonathan's visit to the bank
reportedly follows a fresh order of a
Federal High Court in Lagos lifting the
order of interim forfeiture placed on
her account with the bank by the
Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission.