Four companies plead guilty to laundering cash for former first lady Dame Jonathan

FOUR companies involved in a money laundering case linked to the former first lady Dame Patience Jonathan pleaded guilty before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos admitting that they were used as conduits to launder cash.

 

Last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) froze Dame Jonathan's Skye Bank account after it emerged that large sums of money had been deposited in it. As much as $31m was found to have been transferred to the account by Waripamo Dudafa, a special assistant to former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan, using four companies.

 

Yesterday, the companies Pluto Property and Investment Company, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company and Avalon Global Property Development Company, all pleaded guilty to a 15-count charge brought against them. They had been dragged to court by the EFCC and appeared before Justice Babs Kuewumi.

 

Also charged with them were Mr Dudafa, Amajuoyi Briggs and former Skye Bank official Damola Bolodeoku. However, Dame Jonathan immediately disowned the representatives of the companies, claiming they were mercenaries recruited by the EFCC to plead guilty so that her funds could be confiscated by the state.

 

Following the guilty plea of the companies, the EFCC prosecution team led by Rotimi Oyedepo, then asked the court to allow a short time for a review of the facts. However, the trial judge, Justice Kuewumi, declined the prosecution’s request, ruling that he would adjourn to a future date.

 

Meanwhile, the counsel representing the second and third accused, Messrs Tochukwu Onyiuke and Joseph Okebiemen, informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of their clients, adding that same had not been opposed. They urged the court to admit the accused to bail on liberal terms.

 

Also, the counsel representing the first accused, Gboyega Oyewole, also informed the court that his client was already on bail on existing conditions granted by a brother judge and urged the court to allow his client enjoy the same bail standing. Justice Kuewumi declined granting bail to the first accused and ordered him to file a formal application for bail before the court.

 

However, the court, however, granted bail to the second and third accused in the sum of N250m with one surety in like sum. He added that the sureties must be owners of landed properties in Lagos and if a public servant, such surety must produce a letter of introduction from his employer.