I acted on Jonathan’s instruction, Dudafa insists
Waripamo-Owei Dudafa
A former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, yesterday, insisted that all financial transactions for which he is being prosecuted were made on the instruction of his former boss and his wife, Patience Jonathan. Dudafa alongside one Iwejuo Nna Joseph, are standing trial before Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on alleged fraud of N1.6 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting them on a 23-count charge of conspiracy to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to N1.6 billion.They were first arraigned on June 11, 2016 and they pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, Dudafa under cross-examined by EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that all monies he was alleged of laundering with some companies and individuals, were done on the directives of his former boss, Jonathan.
When shown some of his statements, which he signed during interrogation by the operatives of the agency, he told the court that he signed what was dictated to him.When asked if he asked some Bureau De Change Operators, like Murtala Bashir and others, to transfer some money to some companies which include Seagate Property Development and Investment Ltd, Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd, Ebiwise Resources, Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Rotato Interlink Services Ltd., he responded thus: “I didn’t know because there is nothing linking me with the companies.”
Furthermore, when confronted with Exhibit A, which is Seagate’s statement of account with one of the new generation banks, if the money realised for the Anglican Communion in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was transferred to the church, Dudafa said he doesn’t know.
When further asked if he knows a company called Lamer Travels and Tours Limited, which several money were transferred to by the companies mentioned, he said: “Yes, I know the company. It is a travelling agency used by former President Jonathan and his family, and I have cause to use it also.”
At an earlier hearing, Dudafa while being led in evidence-in-chief by his counsels, Mr. Gboyega Oyewole (SAN)) had told the court that the N1.6 billion in question was the proceeds of donations for church projects, which were paid into private companies’ accounts.
He had said the money was meant for the development of church projects, like the building of archdeaconry of St. Stephen Anglican Church and the youth development centre, Otueke, Bayelsa State.
