A former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
chairman Ibrahim Lamorde advised former First Lady Dame Patience
Jonathan on where to save her money, according to former Special
Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Waripamo-Owei
Dudafa.
Dudafa stated this in a statement on oath he filed before
Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos in a suit
by Mrs Jonathan seeking to unfreeze her accounts with
$15.5million.
Dudafa said the multi-million dollars and other currencies
belonging to Mrs Jonathan were cash gifts, inheritance and funds
she holds in trust for others.
The former aide said his duties as Special Assistant on Domestic
Matters to the former President meant he was in charge of household
affairs, social events involving the First Family, as well as
“meeting the domestic needs of the former president and his
wife”.
By virtue of his position, he said he had daily interactions
with Mrs Jonathan.
“It was during one of those interactions with the plaintiff that
she informed me of the funds belonging to her, which said funds
consisted of her personal inheritance and monies which she held in
trust for her siblings, as well as gifts from friends and
well-wishers over the years,” Dudafa said.
According to the deponent, on several occasions, visitors to the
State House brought cash gifts to Mrs Jonathan, and that such gifts
were “a continuous and regular feature at the State House during
the period I served”.
He said the gifts were brought during social events and holidays
such as wedding anniversaries, birthdays, Christmas, Salah and
Easter celebrations; launching of non-governmental organisations,
among others.
“Several dignitaries from all over the country used to visit the
State House and make cash donations and gifts to the then first
Lady,” he said.
Dudafa told the court that during the burial of Mrs Jonathan’s
mother, Charity Oba, “several individuals, corporate bodies,
well-wishers across the country brought so much gifts to the
Plaintiff both in cash and materials that are quite
substantial.”
He said in a bid to safeguard the funds, Mrs Jonathan sought
Lamorde’s advice on the best way to save the monies without
violating the Money Laundering Act.
“Consequently, I was then invited to a meeting between myself,
the then chairman of the EFCC Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde and the plaintiff
at the Presidential villa, where Mr Lamorde advised and recommended
that personal and corporate accounts be opened for the purpose of
safeguarding the plaintiff’s money to enable her foot her medical
bills and other sundry personal needs whenever she travels
abroad.
“Sequel to the advice given to the plaintiff by Ibrahim Lamorde,
the plaintiff instructed me to coordinate the opening of the
accounts for herself and her family members.
“In carrying out the said plaintiff’s instructions, I contacted
one Sompre Omeibi, a reputable business man from the private sector
to assist in safe guarding the funds.
“Sequel to the directives of Sompre Omiebi, the officials of
Skye Bank brought to the plaintiff in my presence five Automated
Teller Machine cards (ATM) for her use.
“I got in touch with Sompre Omeibi and the bank and requested
that the names on the mandates should be changed to make the
Plaintiff the sole signatory.
“Consequently, Mr. Oladipo Oshodi, an official of the bank, got
in touch with the plaintiff, pleaded with her to use the cards
whilst he would make necessary arrangements to effect the changes
as soon as possible.
“I know as a fact that the bank and Dipo Oshodi are fully aware
that the sums of money in the said accounts belong solely to the
plaintiff.
“I know as a fact that the plaintiff is the owner of the funds
contained in the bank accounts of the third, fourth and fifth
defendants (companies), notwithstanding the facts that the accounts
bear their names,” Dudafa said.
Four companies – Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd,
Seagate Property Development And Investment Co. Ltd, Trans Ocean
Property and Investment Co. Ltd and Avalon Global Property
Development Ltd – through their representatives, had on September
15, 2016 pleaded guilty to laundering the $15.591million when they
were arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi of the same court.
EFCC is contending that the money is “proceed of crime” and
should be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The commission, in its defence to Mrs Jonathan suit, said the
former First Lady could not have genuinely earned the $15.5million
as “she does not run any business from which she could have earned
such huge sums”.
EFCC said its investigations show that the money was allegedly
stolen from the Federal Government and its agencies, and that it
does not belong to the former First Lady.
“There is no way the plaintiff (Mrs Jonathan) could have
genuinely earned the monies. She is the wife of the former
president, a civil servant and a retired Permanent Secretary in
Bayelsa State. She does not run any profit and interest yielding
business venture to generate such money.
“Investigation conducted by the first defendant (EFCC) revealed
that the plaintiff is not the owner of the funds in the accounts of
the third to fifth defendants (companies), which funds were
discovered to be proceeds of fraudulent activities of Dudafa,” EFCC
said.
Justice Idris adjourned until March 26 for continuation of
hearing.
A former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
chairman Ibrahim Lamorde advised former First Lady Dame Patience
Jonathan on where to save her money, according to former Special
Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Waripamo-Owei
Dudafa.
Dudafa stated this in a statement on oath he filed before
Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos in a suit
by Mrs Jonathan seeking to unfreeze her accounts with
$15.5million.
Dudafa said the multi-million dollars and other currencies
belonging to Mrs Jonathan were cash gifts, inheritance and funds
she holds in trust for others.
The former aide said his duties as Special Assistant on Domestic
Matters to the former President meant he was in charge of household
affairs, social events involving the First Family, as well as
“meeting the domestic needs of the former president and his
wife”.
By virtue of his position, he said he had daily interactions
with Mrs Jonathan.
“It was during one of those interactions with the plaintiff that
she informed me of the funds belonging to her, which said funds
consisted of her personal inheritance and monies which she held in
trust for her siblings, as well as gifts from friends and
well-wishers over the years,” Dudafa said.
According to the deponent, on several occasions, visitors to the
State House brought cash gifts to Mrs Jonathan, and that such gifts
were “a continuous and regular feature at the State House during
the period I served”.
He said the gifts were brought during social events and holidays
such as wedding anniversaries, birthdays, Christmas, Salah and
Easter celebrations; launching of non-governmental organisations,
among others.
“Several dignitaries from all over the country used to visit the
State House and make cash donations and gifts to the then first
Lady,” he said.
Dudafa told the court that during the burial of Mrs Jonathan’s
mother, Charity Oba, “several individuals, corporate bodies,
well-wishers across the country brought so much gifts to the
Plaintiff both in cash and materials that are quite
substantial.”
He said in a bid to safeguard the funds, Mrs Jonathan sought
Lamorde’s advice on the best way to save the monies without
violating the Money Laundering Act.
“Consequently, I was then invited to a meeting between myself,
the then chairman of the EFCC Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde and the plaintiff
at the Presidential villa, where Mr Lamorde advised and recommended
that personal and corporate accounts be opened for the purpose of
safeguarding the plaintiff’s money to enable her foot her medical
bills and other sundry personal needs whenever she travels
abroad.
“Sequel to the advice given to the plaintiff by Ibrahim Lamorde,
the plaintiff instructed me to coordinate the opening of the
accounts for herself and her family members.
“In carrying out the said plaintiff’s instructions, I contacted
one Sompre Omeibi, a reputable business man from the private sector
to assist in safe guarding the funds.
“Sequel to the directives of Sompre Omiebi, the officials of
Skye Bank brought to the plaintiff in my presence five Automated
Teller Machine cards (ATM) for her use.
“I got in touch with Sompre Omeibi and the bank and requested
that the names on the mandates should be changed to make the
Plaintiff the sole signatory.
“Consequently, Mr. Oladipo Oshodi, an official of the bank, got
in touch with the plaintiff, pleaded with her to use the cards
whilst he would make necessary arrangements to effect the changes
as soon as possible.
“I know as a fact that the bank and Dipo Oshodi are fully aware
that the sums of money in the said accounts belong solely to the
plaintiff.
“I know as a fact that the plaintiff is the owner of the funds
contained in the bank accounts of the third, fourth and fifth
defendants (companies), notwithstanding the facts that the accounts
bear their names,” Dudafa said.
Four companies – Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd,
Seagate Property Development And Investment Co. Ltd, Trans Ocean
Property and Investment Co. Ltd and Avalon Global Property
Development Ltd – through their representatives, had on September
15, 2016 pleaded guilty to laundering the $15.591million when they
were arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi of the same court.
EFCC is contending that the money is “proceed of crime” and
should be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The commission, in its defence to Mrs Jonathan suit, said the
former First Lady could not have genuinely earned the $15.5million
as “she does not run any business from which she could have earned
such huge sums”.
EFCC said its investigations show that the money was allegedly
stolen from the Federal Government and its agencies, and that it
does not belong to the former First Lady.
“There is no way the plaintiff (Mrs Jonathan) could have
genuinely earned the monies. She is the wife of the former
president, a civil servant and a retired Permanent Secretary in
Bayelsa State. She does not run any profit and interest yielding
business venture to generate such money.
“Investigation conducted by the first defendant (EFCC) revealed
that the plaintiff is not the owner of the funds in the accounts of
the third to fifth defendants (companies), which funds were
discovered to be proceeds of fraudulent activities of Dudafa,” EFCC
said.
Justice Idris adjourned until March 26 for continuation of
hearing.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/dudafa-ex-efcc-chair-advised-jonathans-wife-on-funds/