Patience Jonathan

Akin Kuponiyi

A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos on Friday dismissed two applications seeking to change the guilty pleas of four companies linked to controversial $15.5 million being claimed by former Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan.

The two applications were by filed by  Gboyega Oyewole and Tochukwu Onyunke, lawyers to the two principal accused persons in the alleged money laundering case, Waripamo-owei Dudafa and a lawyer, Amajuoyi Azubike Briggs, on behalf of the four companies, namely; Pluto Property and Investment Development Company Limited, Seagate Property and Investment Development Company Limited, Transoceanic Property and Investment Development Company Limited, and Avalon Property and Investment Development Company Limited, were dismissed for being abuse of court process.

The applicants had challenged the court’s jurisdiction to take the plea of the companies through their purported directors. They also wants the court to reverse the guilty pleas of the purported directors of the companies claiming they did not to have anything doing with the companies.

Dismissing the two applications, the presiding judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi ruled that since the applicants had approached the Court of Appeal for adjudication on Section 477 and 478 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which was the same issue they are asking his court to  determine on the matter, the step taken by the accused persons is abuse of court processes.

Consequently  the two applications were dismissed  while the court adjourned till November 2, for the trial of the accused persons to commence.

It would be recalled that the purported directors of the four companies, Taiwo Ebenezer for Avalon Property and Investment Development Company Limited; Kola Fredrick for Transoceanic Property and Investment Development Company Limited; Friday Davis and Agbo Baro for Seagate Property and Investment Development Company Limited, have all pleaded guilty on behalf of the companies to the money laundering charges leveled against them.

Upon the guilty pleas of the purported directors of the companies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to adjourn for review of facts of the case against them.

The three accused persons, Waripamo-owei Dudafa, Briggs, and Skye Bank’s Head E-Banking, Adedamola Bolodeoku, alongside the four companies, in a second amended charge number FHC/337C/16, were alleged to have between November 13, 2013 and March 31, 2015, conspired with one Sombre Omeibi, who is now at large, to retain the sum of $15. 591, 700, which they reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and thereby committed Offences bordering on money laundering, stealing,and conspiracy.

EFCC  alleged that the said money was wired through account numbers: 2110002207; 2110002245; 2110002238; 0122493290; 2110002252; domiciled in Skye Bank Plc.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that the accused persons forged Skye bank’s mandate card which were purportedly signed by the purported directors of the companies, namely; Friday Davis, kola Fredrick, Agbo Baro, Taiwo Ebenezer and China John.

The offences according to the EFCC are contrary to sections 18(a) and 15(d), and punishable under section s15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

But the former First Lady had claimed that the funds belonged to her.