A former Senior Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripomo Owei-Dudafa, on Friday, September 7, 2018, told Justice Muhammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi , Lagos how the sum of N56million was paid in tranches into the account of a company linked to him.
Dudafa and one Iwejuo Joseph, a former banker, are being prosecuted on a 23-count charge bordering on conspiracy and concealment to the tune of N1.6bn.
The money was part of the donation realised during a fundraiser organised in Lagos in 2013 towards the building of the Anglican Communion, Otueke and a youth development centre in Bayelsa State.
Dudafa, who opened his defence on Monday, September 3, 2018, had earlier told the court that a businessman, Prince Arthur Eze, pledged sum of $10 million during the fundraiser.
At today’s sitting, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, challenged the first defendant to show to the court where any single transaction was made in favour of either the church or the centre.
The prosecution counsel further listed the companies the defendants had used to launder the funds.
The companies are: A. B. Wise Resources Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Limited, Avallon Global Property Development Company Limited, Rotato Interlink Services Limited, Pluto Property and Services Limited and De-jakes Fast Food and Restaurant Nigeria limited, a company linked to the first defendant.
When confronted with the exhibits before the court, Dudafa admitted to have sent the account details of Avallon Global Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Limited, A.B.Wise Resources Limited and De-jakes Fast Food and Restaurant Nigeria Limited to one Bureau De Change operator, Murtala Abubakar Bashir.
The first defendant, under cross-examination, further told the court that he used to direct Bashir to convert the Dollars to Naira and paid the companies on the order of the former President and his wife, Patience.
Dudafa also admitted that Bashir paid the sums of N36 million and another N20 million to the account of De-jakes Fast Food, a company where he is the Chairman and highest shareholder, on January 22, 2015.
When asked why he did not send the monies to the church account, he responded that he was not directed to do so by the former President.
” I didn’t have any business with the church,” he added.
The case was adjourned to Monday, September 10, 2018.