Wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, has dared the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over her multibillion naira hotel seized and sealed-off by the anti-graft agency last June.
Upon its seizure, the EFCC variously inscribed; ‘EFCC Under Investigation’ all over the fi ve-storey property, situated near Setraco Construction Company, along Mabushi Kado Expressway.
Th e facility, though yet to be offi cially unveiled, has between 50 and 100 rooms, with a gym and fountain among other amenities.
A visit by our reporter showed that the inscriptions were covered with grey paint.
However, there was nobody within to really provide some insight into the reason for wiping off the EFCC inscriptions.
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said he did not know much about the seizure of the building and thus could not say if it had been returned to Patience or not.
He said: “I have spoken to the appropriate people but I was not able to get any answer on the matter.
” A source at the EFCC said it was wrong of Patience to have erased the EFCC inscription from the building.
“Sometimes when we are investigating some politicallyexposed-persons, they immediately begin to sell off their buildings in order to cover their tracks and run away with the cash so that is why we put EFCC signs on the buildings so that innocent people will not buy those buildings.
“As it is, she has removed the inscriptions and can quickly sell it off to unsuspecting buyer(s).
” Th e property, which has not yet been offi cially opened, has between 50 and 100 rooms, a gym, a fountain and other amenities.
Th e ex-fi rst lady came under EFCC investigation mid last year when the anti-graft body arrested a former Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Aff airs, Waripamowei Dudafa.
Patience caused a stir when she laid claim to about $15m found in bank accounts allegedly belonging Dudafa’s domestic servants, consequent upon which she sued Skye Bank Plc and the EFCC.
Th is however did not stop the commission from going ahead to freeze her personal account with a balance of $5million.
Th e anti-graft agency had also frozen bank accounts belonging to her relatives and long standing friends, including business mogul, Bola Shagaya.
