The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has discovered an uncompleted 8-storey building belonging to former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, Punch reports.
In a document reportedly sighted by Punch, the EFCC described the building as a ‘magnificent architectural edifice.’
The building is reportedly located between the National Mosque and the Federal Secretariat.
The document also said Mrs Jonathan allegedly acquired the property through her foundation known as Aribawa Aurera Reach Out Foundation.
The EFCC said it has written to the Corporate Affairs Commission to get the identities of directors of the foundation.
The commission also said it had written to the Abuja Geographical Information System to get the history of the property.
The document read, “Plot 1350 Cadastral Zone A00 CBD which was allocated to Ariwabai Aurera Reach Out Foundation in 2010 and Certificate of Occupancy issued in 2011. The plot bears an eight-storey building still under construction.
“Inference may be drawn from investigation that the suspect’s (Patience) last known official position was permanent secretary in Bayelsa State. Hence, there is no way such magnificent architectural edifices could have been built within a short space of time.
“There is a high probability that it could have been built with the proceeds of crime. It is evidently clear that it is a case of money laundering but there is a need to do more investigation.”
The anti-graft commission has also began the process to seize a N2bn hotel from Patience.
The hotel had been reclaimed after the EFCC placed an inscription, asking people to keep off.
The document read in part, “In view of the foregoing, I request for an interim forfeiture order on the two properties amongst others linked to the suspect and believed to have been acquired from the proceeds of crime.
“This is particularly very important because attempts to mark the properties were resisted and even the portion that was successfully marked was later cleaned off by the agents of the suspect.”
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