By Akin Kuponiyi
Former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to the former president Goodluck Jonathan, Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, was today arraigned before a Federal high court in Lagos, south west Nigeria and remanded in Prisons Custody, till Thursday, when the court will rule on his bail application.
Also arraigned alongside the accused was one Iwejuo Joseph Nna a.k.a. Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah.
The the two were arraigned before the court on 23 count-charge, bordering on alleged conspiracy and N5.1 billion fraud, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The two accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the counts charge. Consequently upon their pleas, the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to remand them in prison Custody, and fix a date for trial.
However, counsel to the two accused persons, Barrister Gboyega Oyewole, leading three other lawyers told the court that their clients’ bail applications had been filed, and same have been served on the prosecution. They urged the court to admit them to bail on liberal term.
However, Mr Oyedepo, admitted receiving the bail applications and said though, he is not opposing the bail applications of the accused persons, he needed time to respond to the said application.
Based on the submissions of the two parties, the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, ordered that the two accused persons be remanded in Prisons Custody till Thursday, when their bail application shall be decided.
In the criminal charge filed before the court by Rotimi Oyedepo, it was 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 total sum of
The companies alleged to have been used in committing the alleged offences are, Seagate Property Development & Investment Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited; Iwejuo Joseph Nna and Pluto LUTO Property and Investment Company Limited; Iwejuo Joseph Nna and Rotate Interlink Services Limited. Others include; Ibejige Services Limited; DE Jakes Fast Food & Restaurant Nigeria Limited; and Ebiwise Resources.
The count one of the charge read in parts; “that you, Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, and Iwejuo Joseph Nna (a.k.a. Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah), on or about the 11th day of June, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: Concealing the proceeds of crime in the sum of N 1, 667,162,800.00 (One Billion, Six Hundred and Sixty Seven Million, One Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira), 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, ”while
Count 23 reads; “That you, Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, on April 27, 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable 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 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.
The alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 17(a), 18(c), and 27 (3) (c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.