The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal yesterday set aside the conviction of four companies allegedly connected with the former first lady, Patience Jonathan.
The affected companies include; Transocean Property & Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development & Investment Ltd, Pluto Property & Investment Company Ltd and Avalon Global Property Development Company. Delivering judgment via Zoom on Friday, the Court of Appeal held that the convictions of the four companies amounted to a nullity having being done in gross disregard of statutory and constitutional provisions.
According to the appellate court, the convictions of the four companies breached the principle of fair hearing as provided in the Constitution. The commission through its lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo had urged the court to declare the defendants guilty of fraud following admittance of guilty by some purported directors of the companies.
But the respondents through their lawyers urged the court to allow their clients to go through the documents sought to be tendered by the prosecutor.