The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a fresh criminal charge against former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
He and his companies were charged before Justice Abdulazeez Anka with 17 counts of fraud involving $15,591,700 (about N5,460,980,487.62).
The companies are Pluto Property and Investment Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Ltd, Transocean Property and Investment Ltd, Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd and Gloves Integrated Services Ltd.
Also named in the charge are a lawyer Amajuoyi Azubuike Briggs, Ademola Bolodeoku and Sombre Omeibi (said to be at large).
EFCC said they conspired on November 13, 2013 in Lagos to conceal $15,591,700, which they “reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act”.
The alleged offence is contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Act, 2012 and punishable under section 15(3).
The charge is the second filed against Dudafa in Lagos. He and Iwejuo Nna (alias Taiwo A. Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah) were earlier arraigned on 23-counts of conspiracy and concealment of crime proceeds before Justice Mohammed idris of the same court.
EFCC said the accused conspired on June 11, 2013 to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6billion. The pleaded not guilty.
In the new charge, the commission alleged that the accused persons, between November 13, 2013 and last May 28, conspired among themselves to conceal the money through various banks in Nigeria.
Their arraignment was stalled due to the absence of Dudafa and representatives of companies.
EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said Dudafa allegedly refused to accept service of the charge. He prayed for an order to enable EFCC effect the service.
Dudafa is still in prison custody due to his inability to meet the bail terms granted him by Justice Idris.
But defence counsel Tochukwu Onyiuke opposed the application on the basis that Oyedepo made an oral application rather than filing a proper motion.
He said Briggs could not be held liable for discharging his professional duties, adding that EFCC could use substituted means to serve the companies rather than through his client.
Oyedepo sought an adjournment to enable him bring all the accused persons to court.
“We are humbly applying for production warrant to be served on Ikoyi Prison to produce Dudafa,” he added.
Justice Anka adjourned until September 8.
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