1.6 billion fraud charge: Court Dismisses No-Case Submission Filed By Jonathan's Ex-Aide

A Federal High Court sitting Lagos, on Wednesday, May 30, fixed June 19, for parties to adopt their addresses on a no-case submission filed by Waripamo Owei-Dudafa, a former presidential aide, facing charges of N5.1 billion fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission took to Twitter on Monday, August 6, to make the disclosure.

A no-case submission filed by a former senior special assistant on domestic affairs to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, has been dismissed by Justice MB Idris of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

It tweeted: "#MoneyLaundering A Fed High Court in Lagos has dismissed no-case submission filed by Dudafa Waripamo-Owei, ex-SSA to ex-President Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, who is standing trial for a 23-count charge of money laundering, and ordered him to open his defence on August 20."

Dudafa and one Iwejuo Nna, are being tried on a 23-count charge bordering on money laundering, failure to declare assets and conspiracy to conceal proceeds of crime to the tune of N1.6 billion.

According to report, they were said to have concealed N1.6 billion through a company identified as Seagate Property Development and Investment Limited.

The defendants, who pleaded not guilty, were also accused of knowingly concealing proceeds of crime through Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited in the sum of N399,470,000.00, among other alleged criminal offences.

In a short ruling, the judge held: “The prosecution called witnesses and tendered evidences that I have carefully examined, and a link might be established between the defendants and the offences."

The judge held that they had a case to answer and adjourned the matter to August 20 for the defence to open its case.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Owei-Dudafa, a former aide to then president Goodluck Jonathan, alongside one Joseph Iwejuo, on a 23-count charge bordering on conspiracy and concealment of crime proceeds.

#MoneyLaundering A Fed High Court in Lagos has dismissed no-case submission filed by Dudafa Waripamo-Owei, ex-SSA to ex-President Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, who is standing trial for a 23-count charge of money laundering, and ordered him to open his defence on August 20.

— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) 6 August 2018