Dudafa

Akin Kuponiyi

The scheduled continuation of trial of Waripamo-owei Emmanuel Dudafa, the former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, could not go on today due to his absence because he was said to be on sick bed.

His counsel Mr Gboyega Oyewole told the court that he was surprised that his client was not in court, but on inquiry from prison officials he was told that Dudafa was sick that was why he was not brought to court. Prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, was also not in court as he was said to be before a Lagos Division of court of Appeal.

Mr Oyewole, also told the court that EFCC has flagrantly disobeyed the order of the court by not handing over the international passport of Dudafa to the Court registry as directed by the court.

Before Dudafa’s sickness was brought to the notice of the court, the presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Idris, said prosecution sent letter to the Court seeking for an adjournment.

The EFCC’s letter authored by Rotimi Oyedepo, had asked the court for an adjournment to enable him attend to an appeal filed by Mr. Ricky Tarfa Mohammed, against the Commission in suit number CA/497/2016.

He therefore urged the court to adjourned the matter till Thursday November 10, 2016.

Not opposing the adjournment sought for by the prosecution, Dudafa’s lawyer however, told the court that the prosecutor who has his phone number ought to have called and informed him of the development, rather than hearing of it in court.

Consequently, Justice Mohammed Idris granted the prosecutor’s application and adjourned the matter till Thursday November 10, for continuation of trial of the accused persons.

Dudafa and Joseph Nna, who also alleged to be bearing Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah, and five limited liabilities companies are standing trial before the court on 23 counts charge bordering an alleged offence of laundering N5.1billion

The companies charged alongside the two accused persons are; Seagate Property Development & Investment Limited, Ebiwise Resources Limited; Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited; Lutato Interservices Limited and Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited.

It would be recalled that the two accused were arraigned before the court by the anti-graft agency on 23 count-charge bordering on alleged N5.1 billion fraud, by the EFCC, they pleaded not guilty to all the counts in charge.

In the charge EFCC alleged that Dudafa, and Joseph Nna, who also claimed to be Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah, had between June 11, 2013, and June 2015, used the named companies to fraudulently steal the commit the alleged offences.

The charge read in parts; stated thus “that you,Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, and Iwejuo Joseph Nna (a.k.a. Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah), on or about the 11th day of June, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: Concealing the proceeds of crime in the sum of N 1, 667,162,800.00 (One Billion, Six Hundred and Sixty Seven Million, One Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira), and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a) of the same Act.”

“That you, Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, on April 27, 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court failed to furnish any information in relation to your interest in Ibijige Services Limited as required in page 12 of the Declaration of Assets Form and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 27 (3) (c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.”

The offences alleged to have been committed by the accused persons are contrary to and punishable under sections 17(a), 18(c), and 27 (3) (c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.