IYC, militant group warn EFCC against trial of Patience Jonathan

The umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to face the business of ensuring that criminals are brought to book instead of its alleged plan to prosecute former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

Ijaw Youths Congress (IYC), through its president, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, advised the anti-graft agency to follow due process in its war against corruption instead of the current media trial of the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

Also, a militant group, the Niger Delta Peoples Professional Volunteer Force (NDPPVF), warned against the prosecution of Mrs. Jonathan, who is being investigated by EFCC.

The NDPPVF had threatened attacks if she was for any reason arrested.

Speaking with journalists, the IYC president said like other First Ladies in the country, Patience Jonathan has no questions to answer from the anti-graft agency as she got her wealth through gratification and ‘thank you’ gifts from those who seek her help.

He said: “Now, if you say Patience Jonathan should go and tell us how she made $1 million, then you must first of all start with other First Ladies, otherwise, it’s a witch-hunt. Patience Jonathan got her wealth from thank you and there is nowhere in the law that says we should not receive thank you gifts. So, EFCC should stop this nonsense.”

Eradiri also questioned the agency on the whereabouts of monies allegedly recovered from former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, saying that such funds, if paid into Bayelsa’s account, could boost the state’s economy.

He said: “Bayelsa State money is in their confers; we want our money back. Those are the issues they should be focusing on, returning stolen funds back to states so that those states can use the money to boost their economy and not using the instruments of the state to witch-hunt the former first family, especially former President Goodluck Jonathan.”