Why we stopped Patience Jonathan from withdrawing from her account - Skye Bank

Two days after Patience Jonathan was blocked from withdrawing from the $5.8 million she deposited in Skye Bank, the financial institution has explained its action.

Mrs. Jonathan had on Monday visited the Maitama Branch of Skye Bank in Abuja, seeking to withdraw from her account.

The move followed an April 6 court order that lifted restrictions on the former First Lady’s account as a result of an ongoing litigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

But bank officials declined to initiate any transaction for Mrs. Jonathan, despite spending time in the bank’s premises.

In an interview on Wednesday, Rasheed Bolarinwa, Skye Bank’s head of corporate communication, said the bank had received a stay of execution order filed by the anti-graft agency prior to Mrs. Jonathan’s visit to the bank.

Mr. Bolarinwa confirmed that the bank was also notified of an appeal by the EFCC against the court order.