The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has directed six commercial banks to un-freeze accounts operated by former first lady, Patience Jonathan. The committee gave the directive on Tuesday in Abuja at a hearing on a petition by Mrs. Jonathan.
The affected banks are Union Bank, First Bank, EcoBank, Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank and Skye Bank. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had directed the banks to freeze the accounts over allegations of corruption in the sources of the funds.
The committee has given the EFCC acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, up to October fourth to appear before it or have arrest warrant issued against him. Similarly, the panel asked Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyers and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to reconcile their positions on an alleged tax default of over ten million naira.
FIRS had said that Aridolf Resort Wellness and SPA, owned by Mrs Jonathan, failed to pay taxes in spite of serial reminders. However, her lawyers insisted that they had paid all their taxes to the agency.
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