Dipo Olowookere
By Ebitonye Akpodigha
Supporters of the immediate First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Patience Jonathan, on Thursday marched to the zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The demonstrators, mostly women, urged the commission to remove the embargo it placed on the bank account of the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife.
Some of them carried placards with different inscriptions including “Leave our mother alone”, “Please, EFCC, the malady of Mrs Patience Jonathan is of great concern to us, come to our aid in Allah’s name”, “EFCC should release the $15million Patience Jonathan’s money without delay”, “Magu, unfreeze Mrs Patience Jonathan Account”, “Mr Chairman Sir, please fight corruption with love”, “Leave Ex-president wife alone” amongst others.
The women, numbering about 100 and under the aegis of Voice of Niger Delta Women, were led by Mrs Rita Onwunali Adandigbo.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mrs Adandigbo noted that they were in full support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption, but said it was worried over the failing health of Mrs Jonathan because of the seized money, which is meant for her treatment.
They called on the anti-graft agency to immediately unfreeze the account to enable the former First Lady cater for her health.
Addressing the women, South-South Zonal Head of Public Affairs of the EFCC, Mr Oladele Oyewale, assured them of the commission’s fairness and readiness to attend to all issues referred to it without any delay.
“We will report your grievances to the Ag. Executive chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu and he will carefully look into it. We will report everything you have said to him and actions will be taken accordingly,” Mr Oyewale informed the protesters.
