Politics

Dudafa, others plead not guilty to laundering “Patience Jonathan’s $15m”

Published

8 years ago

September 15, 2016

N5.1BN ALLEGED FRAUD: Confessional statement made under duress, Dudafa tells court

Former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa on Thursday pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges linked to Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Others who pleaded not guilty are Amajuoyi Briggs, a lawyer and Adedamola Bolodeoku a banker who are accused to have conspired with Dudafa and four companies to launder a sum of $15,591,700 on or about November 13, 2013.

Arraigning the seven accused before a Federal High Court in Lagos, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had told the court that the $15.6 million was proceeds of theft.

But Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku said they were not guilty to the amended 15 counts pressed against them by the EFCC.

However, the four companies pleaded guilty to have conspired with Dudafa and the two others to launder a sum of $15,591,700.

The companies are: Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development & Investment Co. Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited; and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited.

While the EFCC froze the $15.6 million found in the four companies’ accounts in Skye Bank, the wife of ex-President Jonathan, Patience, sued the commission and Skye Bank, laying claim to the money.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

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