Tag: Dr. Waripamo-Owei Dudafa

The Federal High Court in Lagos has heard how a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs Dr Waripamo-Owei Dudafa allegedly laundered about N5.1billion for the former president’s wife Patience.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Dudafa and Iwejuo Joseph Nna (alias Taiwo A. Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah) before Justice Mohammed Idris on 23-counts of conspiracy and concealment of crime proceeds.

They are on trial for alleged conspiracy to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6billion on June 11, 2013, among others.

A prosecution witness, Orji Chukwuma, in his testimony on Tuesday, said Dudafa allegedly used different companies to fraudulently launder various sums of money to the tune of N5.1 billion.

The EFCC operative said a Bereau de Change operator Murtala Abubakar admitted to have collected several millions in dollars from Dudafa.

“We discovered, in the course of our investigation, that Abubakar was directed to pay the various sums of money into different accounts provided by Dudafa,” the witness said.

Chukwuma, led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, said Mrs Jonathan gave the money to Dudafa at the Aso Rock Villa.

The former aide, the witness said, allegedly used some companies to launder the money.

They are ABY Resources Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited, Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Ibejige Services Limited and DeJakes Fast Food & Restaurant Nigeria Limited.

Chukwuma said the defendant ware-housed and managed the money through the companies.

The court also heard that Dudafa did not declare his interest in the companies in his Asset Declaration Form.

According to the witness, the monies found in his accounts at two new generation banks were proceeds of crime.

Dudafa, through his lawyer, applied to the court to release his international passport temporarily to enable him go for a medical appointment outside the country.

He claimed that he suffers from spinal cord dislocation, which he said he sustained while he was at EFCC’s detention.

But, Oyedepo urged the court not to grant the application, saying EFCC had written to a government hospital to determine whether Dudafa could be treated in Nigeria but was yet to get a response.

Justice Idris adjourned till October 24 for hearing of the application to travel.

Trial will continue on November 14 and 15.

The Federal High Court in Lagos Monday rejected claims by a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Dr Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, that he was “tormented” by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while in detention.

EFCC arraigned Dudafa and Iwejuo Joseph Nna before Justice Mohammed Idris on 23-counts of conspiracy and conspiring to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6billion on June 11, 2013.

Prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo had sought to tender the defendants’ statements during trial, but Dudafa and Nna claimed that the statements were not made voluntarily.

Justice Idris then ordered a trial-within-trial to determine if the statements were made voluntarily.

Dudafa had claimed that he was he was “tormented” by in a bid to get him to implicate the former president. He said the statements were dictated to him, and that he was induced to sign in exchange for his freedom.

He also said he was denied access to his relatives, was not given food for some period, and that EFCC doctored the video recording of his statement by blotting out the part where he protested the fact that he was being induced.

Ruling yesterday, Justice Idris admitted the statements on the basis that their contents did not indicate that the defendants “confessed” to any crime.

He was, however, silent on Dudafa’s claims that he was “tormented” and induced to make the statements.

Justice Idris said: “Are exhibits ID1 and ID2 (the statements) admissible in evidence? Are they confessional? None of the parties have addressed this issue.

“What is a confession? A confession is generally made in writing to a police officer or other law enforcement agents during investigation. It could also be made orally.

“A confession must be direct and positive as far as the charges are concerned. To constitute a confession, a statement must admit or acknowledge that the maker thereof committed the offences for which he is charged and in doing so be clear and unequivocal.”

Justice Idris held that the confessional statements did not meet the principle of mens rea (criminal intent).

He said: “Where in Exhibits ID1 and ID2 did the first and second defendants admit the act constituting the offences, as well as requisite intent of mens rea? None has been shown to the court by the counsel, and not has been seen by the court.

“Let me restate for the avoidance of doubt that qualified confession, which for instance, suggests that a defendant is raising a defence, cannot be labeled a confession.

“Strictly speaking, an admission of guilt, but with a defence or an explanation, therefore, cannot amount to a confession.

“It has not been shown that the statements of the first and second defendants tendered by the prosecution amount to an admission of guilt.

“It has not been shown that the said statements were positive, direct and unequivocal as to the commission of the offence for which the defendants were charged.

“I cannot in the circumstances hold that these statements are indeed confessional statements. In the circumstances, I hold that the statements are admissible at this stage.

“They are admitted and marked as Exhibits G-G15 in respect of the statement of the first defendant, and Exhibit H-H40 in respect of the second defendant.”

Justice Idris adjourned until June 21 for continuation of trial.