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Former First Lady, Patience Jonathan on Wednesday solicited for the protection of the House of Representatives over invasion of her home by operatives of Department of State Security (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Jonathan’s petition was laid during plenary session by Lovette Idisi (PDP-Delta) who accused the security and anti-graft agencies of threatened her life.
She also alleged that her life was being threatened by operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who allegedly ‘broke’ into her Abuja home twice, in her absence without prior notice.
She equally alleged that her children’s accounts and that of close relations were frozen by EFCC even as the reputation of her husband has been negatively affected by media reports orchestrated by the agency.
Jonathan explained that four corporate accounts frozen by the anti-graft agency and had through her lawyers, issued the EFCC, 14 days with effect from September 18 to de-freeze her accounts as well as tender a public apology.
According to her, the case is pending before Federal High Court, Lagos.
Speaking on her behalf, Idisi who frowned at the alleged ill-treatment of the former First Lady by the EFCC, cited Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), that any accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.
“This petition is in line with section 36 of the 1999 Constitution which dictates that every citizen is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“The constant harassment of the former First Lady is contained in a petition which emanated from her, that was sent to my office. With the leave of the House I seek your permission to lay the petition before the House”, he said.
While ruling after laying the petition before the House, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, referred it to the Committee on Public Petitions, chaired by Ossai Nicholas Ossai for further legislative action.
