Patience Jonathan's $15.5m Case Takes a New Twist in Court.(Read Details)

The case against Patience Jonathan, wife of former
President Goodluck Jonathan on the charges brought
against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission which alleged that the $15.5million
belonging to her was laundered, took a twist yesterday
after the court refused to order the forfeiture of the
money.
The money was allegedly laundered through a former
Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to ex-President
Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo Dudafa.
Although, Justice Babs Kuewumi convicted the
companies after a review of the facts of the case by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC)
lawyer Mr Oyedepo Rotimi, he refused to order the
forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government, The
Nation reveals.
The companies, on September 15, pleaded guilty to
laundering $15,591,700 (about N5billion) when they
were arraigned.
They are: Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd
(represented by Friday Davis), Seagate Property
Development and Investment Company Ltd (represented
by Agbor Baro), Trans Ocean Property and Investment
Company Ltd (represented by Dioghowori Frederick) and
Avalon Global Property Development Ltd (represented by
Taiwo Ebenezer).
Rotimi had begged the court thus: “Having found them
guilty, the court should make a consquential order that
the money should be forfeited to the Federal
Government,” he said.
But, the judge said he would hand down a sentence on
the companies after the trial of the others who pleaded
not guilty in the charge.
Justice Kuewumi said: “ The ownership issue is still
pending. There’s also a pending suit on the matter.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Patience, is
claiming the monies in the companies’ accounts as
hers. The companies were arraigned along with Dudafa,
a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs and a banker, Adedamola
Bolodeoku.
Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku, however, pleaded not
guilty to the 17-count charge. While reviewing the facts,
Rotimi said the money was stolen from the State House,
Abuja.
He said: “EFCC received an intelligence report showing
vividly that the fourth to seventh defendants retained
proceeds of crime.
“Our investigations showed that Fetus Iyoha admitted
receiving the fund from the first defendant. Iyoha is a
domestic staff at the State House.
“He admitted that funds credited into the accounts were
given to him from the State House.”
Rotimi said Iyoha paid $3,096,377.38 into Pluto’s
account; paid $3,410,534.71 into Seagate’s account,
paid $3,765,711.87 into Trans Oceans’ account, and paid
$250,000 into Avalon Global’s accout.
All the accounts, EFCC said, are domiciled in Skye Bank
Plc.
The judge admitted the accounts statements in
evidence. He also admitted their mandate cards,
certificates of incorporation and statements made to
EFCC by the companies’ representatives.
Justice Kuewumi held that the prosecution proved the
allegations against the companies beyond reasonable
doubt, especially after they pleaded guilty to the crime.
“I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case.
I’ll exercise my discretion to suspend sentence until
conclusion of trial,” the judge held.
EFCC said the accused persons conspired on November
13, 2013 in Lagos to launder $15,591,700.
It said the defendants “reasonably ought to have known
that the funds form part of the proceeds of an unlawful
act”.
Seagate Property, Dudafa, Bolodeoku and Sompre
Omiebi (said to be at large) were accused of indirectly
retaining $1,094,500 through a Skye Bank Plc account
(2110002207) between November 14 and 19, 2013. EFCC
said the money “forms part of an unlawful act to wit:
stealing.”
They were also accused of indirectly retaining
$1,200,000 through the Skye Bank account between
January 21 and December 19, 2014; as well as $1,349,700
through the same account between March 31 and May
20, 2015, among others.
Justice Kuewumi adjourned until December 14 for trial.