Former Senior Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs, to former president, Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, has closed his defence in his ongoing trial over N1.6bn fraud allegation on conspiracy and concealment.
It is a case of 23-count charge preferred against Dudafa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, the defendant maintained his earlier statements of not conspiring with Joseph Iwejoe, the second defendant in the charge, to conceal the sum of N1.6 billion.
EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade in a statement said the suspects allegedly conspired and laundered the said money through the accounts of A.B. Wise Resources Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited, Rotato Interlink Service Limited, Pluto Property and Services Limited and De-jakes fast food and Restaurant Limited.
Led in evidence by his counsel, Gboyega Oyewale, SAN, Dudafa told the court that the said money for which he is standing trial belonged to the Anglican Communion of Otuoke community in Bayelsa State, which was realized from a fundraising organized by the Church, where Jonathan was a member and a Grand Patron.
Dudafa, it was learnt, opened his defence on September 3, 2018 and, told the court that a businessman, Prince Arthur Eze, had pledged the sum of $10 million during the fundraising, and he still maintained his position today.
When grilled by his counsel if the said sum was concealed as recorded in the charges, Dudafa answered in the negative and said no money was concealed as the money did not belong to him.
He also stated that the source of the money was not unlawful as stated in the charge.
Further, Dudafa reiterated that the accounts listed in counts two to nine of the charge were not his and that he was not a signatory to any of the accounts.
He added that the accounts belonged to Somprei Omiebi, a friend of his and a family friend to Jonathan and that he was only carrying out instructions from the former president, and all the monies sent out were done through financial institutions on the orders of Jonathan.
Dudafa, in effect, denied all the allegations in the charges and urged the court to dismiss them, discharge and acquit him.
But during cross-examination, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, confronted him with his statement on Exhibit F, which he had earlier denied, stating that he used Avalon Global Property Development company to acquire a property located opposite Chevron, Lekki, Lagos.
EFCC said Dudafa admitted that the Dollars received on behalf of the former president were paid in cash to Bashir, a Bureau De Change operator, and the Naira equivalents were paid through financial institutions to the beneficiaries.
Besides, he reportedly admitted that N30million was paid into De Jakes Fast Food Account, a company in which he is the highest shareholder and a signatory to the account.
Orilade affirmed, “He said money was invested.
“He also confirmed that no single withdrawal was made in the name of the church, despite the source being a fundraiser organized by the Anglican Communion.”
Justice Idris adjourned the matter to February 25, 2019 for adoption of final written addresses.
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