The
Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday refused to order the forfeiture of
$15.5million found in the accounts of companies belonging to a former Special
Adviser on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo Dudafa.
Justice
Babs Kuewumi convicted the companies after a review of the facts of the case by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) lawyer Mr Oyedepo Rotimi.
The
companies, on September 15, pleaded guilty to laundering $15,591,700
(about N5billion) when they were arraigned.
They
are: 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)
Following
the companies’ conviction, Rotimi prayed the court to order the forfeiture of
the money to the Federal Government.
“Having
found them guilty, the court should make a consequential order that the money
should be forfeited to the Federal Government,” he said.
But,
the judge said he would hand down a sentence on the companies after the trial
of the others who pleaded not guilty in the charge.
Justice
Kuewumi said: “The ownership issue is still pending. There’s also a pending
suit on the matter.”
Former
President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Patience, is claiming the monies in the
companies’ accounts as hers.
The
companies were arraigned along with Dudafa, a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs and a
banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku.
Dudafa,
Briggs and Bolodeoku, however, pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge.
While
reviewing the facts, Rotimi said the money was stolen from the State House,
Abuja.
He
said: “EFCC received an intelligence report showing vividly that the fourth to
seventh defendants retained proceeds of crime.
“
Our investigations showed that Fetus Iyoha admitted receiving the fund from the
first defendant. Iyoha is a domestic staff at the State House.
“He
admitted that funds credited into the accounts were given to him from the State
House.”
Rotimi
said Iyoha paid $3,096,377.38 into Pluto’s account; paid $3,410,534.71 into
Seagate’s account, paid $3,765,711.87 into Trans Oceans’ account, and paid $250,000
into Avalon Global’s accout.
All
the accounts, EFCC said, are domiciled in Skye Bank Plc.
The
judge admitted the accounts statements in evidence. He also admitted their
mandate cards, certificates of incorporation and statements made to EFCC by the
companies’ representatives.
Justice
Kuewumi held that the prosecution proved the allegations against the companies
beyond reasonable doubt, especially after they pleaded guilty to the crime.
“I
am satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case. I’ll exercise my
discretion to suspend sentence until conclusion of trial,” the judge held.
EFCC
said the accused persons conspired on November 13, 2013 in Lagos to launder
$15,591,700.
It
said the defendants “reasonably ought to have known that the funds form part of
the proceeds of an unlawful act”.
Seagate
Property, Dudafa, Bolodeoku and Sompre Omiebi (said to be at large) were
accused of indirectly retaining $1,094,500 through a Skye Bank Plc account
(2110002207) between November 14 and 19, 2013. EFCC said the money “forms part
of an unlawful act to wit: stealing.”
They
were also accused of indirectly retaining $1,200,000 through the Skye Bank
account between January 21 and December 19, 2014; as well as $1,349,700 through
the same account between March 31 and May 20, 2015, among others.
Justice
Kuewumi adjourned until December 14 for trial.
Source: The Nation
Tags
Society