Davidson Iriekpen
Federal High Court in Lagos wednesday remanded in prison custody, Warpamo Dudafa, former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan over alleged fraud.
Also ordered to be remanded in prisons custody is one Iwejuo Joseph Nna who is also known as Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah.
They were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris on a 23-count charge bordering on alleged N5.1 billion fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and upon their pleas, the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to remand them in prison custody, and adjourned for trial.
However, counsel to the accused persons, Gboyega Oyewole and Sunday Abumere, informed the court that their clients’ bail applications had been filed, and same had been served on the prosecution.
They urged the court to admit their clients on bail in liberal term.
But Oyedepo admitted receiving the bail applications.
He, however, informed the court that he was not opposing the bail applications but needed time to respond.
Upon the submissions of both parties, the trial judge ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prisons custody till the court decides on their bail applications tomorrow.
In the charge sheet endorsed by Oyedepo, 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 different companies to fraudulently steal and commit the alleged offences.
Some of the companies allegedly used in committing the alleged offences are Seagate Property Development and Investment Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited, Iwejuo Joseph Nna and Pluto LUTO Property. Others are Investment Company Limited, Iwejuo Joseph Nna and Rotate Interlink Services Limited.
Others are Ibejige Services Limited, DE Jakes Fast Food and Restaurant Nigeria Limited and Ebiwise Resources.
The count one of the charge read in part: “That you, Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa and Iwejuo Joseph Nna (a.k.a. Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah), on or about June 11, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: concealing the proceeds of crime in the sum of N1.6 billion 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.”
Another count of the charge read: “That you, Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, on April 27, 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this 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 EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004.”
The alleged offences are said to be contrary to and punishable under sections 17(a), 18(c), and 27 (3) (c) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004.
