EFCC accuses Jonathan’s aide of allegedly helping Patience launder N5.1bn

EFCC accuses Jonathan’s aide of allegedly helping Patience launder N5.1bn

- EFCC accuses a former presidential aide, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, of alleged fraudulent activities

- The anti-graft agency says the accused used some companies to manage the monies found in his possession

- The EFCC traces N2.114 billion to the bank account of Magel Resort Limited allegedly owned by Mama Charity Oba and her daughter, Patience Jonathan

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told a Federal High Court in Lagos how Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, a former special assistant on domestic affairs to ex- president, Goodluck Jonathan, allegedly laundered several billions of naira for a former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

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Premium Times reports that the prosecution witness, Orji Chukwuma, an investigator with the anti-graft agency told the court that Dudafa’s alleged fraudulent activities was confirmed by Murtala Abubakar, a Bureau de Change operator, who admitted to have collected several millions in dollars from the suspect.

“We discovered, in the course of our investigation, that Abubakar was directed to pay the various sums of money into different accounts provided by Dudafa,” Chukwuma said.

The EFCC told the court on Wednesday, October 18, that Dudafa used some companies to ware-house and manage the monies found in his possession.

The agency told the court that the companies used by the accused included ABY Resources Limited; Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited; Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Ibejige Services Limited and DeJakes Fast Food & Restaurant Nigeria Limited.

The EFCC said the accused did not declare his interest in the companies in his Asset Declaration Form.

It said the monies found in his accounts at two new generation banks were proceeds of crime.

On his part, Dudafa, through his lawyer, filed an application urging the court to release his international passport temporarily to enable him go for a medical appointment outside the country.

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But his application was challenged by, the prosecution counsel, Oyedepo, who urged the court not to grant the application on the grounds that the EFCC had written to a Lagos state government hospital to examine Dudafa’s health and to determine whether he could be treated in the country or abroad.

Oyedepo, however, told the court that he had yet to receive any response from the hospital.

The matter was consequently, adjourned to October 24 for hearing of the application and November 14 and 15, 2017 for continuation of trial.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has traced N2.114 billion to the bank account of Magel Resort Limited allegedly owned by Mama Charity Oba and her daughter, Patience Jonathan.

The Punch reports that an interim report of the EFCC accused the former first lady of perpetuating fraud through her non-governmental organisations.

According to the EFCC, the total amount of money traced to Mrs Jonathan is now N17 billion although she has filed a N2 billion fundamental human rights suit against the EFCC accusing it of subjecting her to psychological trauma and unnecessary persecution.

The EFCC stages walk against corruption on Legit.ng

Source: Legit.ng

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