Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, refused an oral application moved by the counsel to former first lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, seeking to restrain another judge of the court, Justice Babs Kuewumi from taking further steps on the frozen $15.591 million she claimed belongs to her.

The former first lady’s lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe, had urged the court to stop Justice Kuewumi from making any order forfeiting the $15.591 million, which was frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to the federal government until the determination of an interlocutory application filed by her client.

Mrs Jonathan is claiming the sum of $200 million against the EFCC, Skye Bank Plc, a former special assistant to ex-President Jonathan, Waripama-Owei Dudafa and four others for what she described as the inconvenience and embarrassment she suffered as a result of the freezing of her accounts.

Also joined in the fundamental rights enforcement suit are: Pluto Property and Investment company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean Property and investment company Ltd and Globus Integrarted Service Ltd.

It would be recalled that the four companies, which the EFCC claimed was used by Dudafa to launder the $15.591 million dollars, had pleaded guilty to the offence of money laundering before Justice Kuewumi.

The sum involved in the criminal case is the same money which former First Lady, Patience, claimed belongs to her as the sole signatory to the accounts of the companies.

She, however, denied ownership of the companies.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, the judge acknowledged a letter from the counsel representing Skye Bank, Lanre Ogunlesi, stating that he was indisposed and would not be able to come to court.

According to the judge, since Ogunlesi requested for a new date to enable him appear in court, the hearing of the application on notice could not go on.