Politics

Dudafa runs to defend Mrs Jonathan, seeks reversal of companies’ guilty plea

Published

8 years ago

September 28, 2016

Dudafa, runs to defend Mrs Jonathan, seeks reversal of companies’ guilty plea

A former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo Dudafa, has prayed the court to nullify the guilty plea by four companies linked to a former first lady, Patience Jonathan.

The companies had pleaded guilty to the charge of money laundering to the tune of $15.5 million proffered against them by the EFCC

He, along with a lawyer Amajuoyi Briggs tendered the prayer before a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday through their lawyers, asking the court to set aside the guilty plea entered on the firm’s behalf by their representatives.

They asked the court to change the guilty plea with a “not-guilty” plea for the companies, contending that the court lacked jurisdiction to accept the companies’ guilty plea because, according to them, those who pleaded guilty for the companies did not exhibit any letter authorising them to do so by the firms’ board.

Their lawyers argued that the prosecution failed to comply with Section 477(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which specifies that such a representative must have authorisation.

Dudafa’s lawyer, Gbenga Oyewole, maintained that the four representatives had earlier made statements to both the EFCC and the court denying any connection with the companies and alleging that their names and signatures were forged.

He also argued that Mrs Jonathan had sued EFCC claiming ownership of the funds in the companies’ accounts, adding that neither the Federal Government nor any state had stated that the funds were stolen from them.

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But, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, asked the court to refuse the applications. He said that evidence at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), showed that Davies, Baro, Fredrick and Ebenezer were the companies’ directors.

Justice Babs Kuewunmi adjourned until October 7 for ruling.

Four companies, Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Friday Davis), Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Agbor Baro), Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Dioghowori Frederick) and Avalon Global Property Development Ltd (represented by Taiwo Ebenezer), had on September 15 pleaded guilty to laundering $15,591,700 (about N5billion) when they were arraigned.

However, Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku, pleaded not guilty to a 17-count charge levelled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Focus keyword: Mrs Jonathan

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