The EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) battle against the former first lady, Patience Jonathan has become one of the greatest scandals in Nigeria. Mrs. Jonathan was accused of corruption and her personal accounts containing over $20 million in total were frozen.
In response to the EFCC’s accuses, Patience has tried out all instruments of defending herself – from pretending she didn’t know about that money existence on the accounts (as she said, she just had several platinum debit cards, which she used to withdraw money and that the cards are not evidence of ownership) to accusing EFCC of their attempts to steal her money.
Now, ex-first lady switched to another tactic – she claims the money on her accounts was made from the gifts! The spokesman of the Ijaw youths, Udengs Eradiri, said in Mrs. Jonathan’s defense, “First Ladies in Nigeria do not do any work. A woman naturally attracts a lot of gifts from men let alone a First Lady who has the power to recommend you for something. They receive a lot of thank you and gratifications because most cases they recommend people who come back to thank them. Even when they do not recommend, people go and say good morning with a million dollar.” He also reminded about all other first ladies who were no less rich and influential. So if EFCC wants to accuse Patience in corruption, they should start with all the First Ladies. Otherwise, the whole process against Patience can be called in no other words, but a witch-hunt.
