Money Linked To Patience Jonathan Are Gifts, Dudafa Tells Court
A former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Dr. Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, on Monday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that part of the money which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seek to seize from Mrs. Patience Jonathan were cash gifts she received while she was the first lady.
Dudafa was testifying in the defence of the former first lady in a suit filed by the EFCC seeking final forfeiture of the sums of $8.4 million and N9.2 billion allegedly linked to her.
Justice Olatoregun had on April 20, 2018 granted an interim order forfeiting the funds to the government after entertaining an exparte application filed before her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC had specifically asked the court for an interim order forfeiting the sum of $3,645,013.73 domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria Ltd and traced to Mrs Jonathan to the government.
Asides this sum, the court further ordered the interim forfeiture of another $4.3m, N1.8bn, N226m, $429,381.87 and various other sums traced to six others said to have links with the former first lady.
Mrs. Jonathan, five firms and one, Esther Oba were listed as respondents in the suit.
The firms that were listed as second to sixth defendants were; Globus Integrated Services Limited, Finchley Top Homes Limited, Am-Pm Global Network Limited, Pagmat Oil and Gas Limited and Magel Resort Limited.
In his testimony on Monday, Dudafa also claimed, “I was not procured by the family of Dame Patience Jonathan to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities.
“By virtue of being the former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to the erstwhile president and the 1st respondent (Mrs. Jonathan), I was informed by the 1st respondent that the funds in the firm’s account are cash gifts that were given to her while she was the first lady”, he said.
The witness also denied that he was aware that a bag he received on behalf of Dr. Jonathan from one, Col. Adegbe, in the course of his duties contained $47 million which was allegedly removed from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the instruction of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki.
Also during yesterday proceedings, a former Head of Service of Bayelsa State, Mr. Fraser Ogboru and the South West Zonal Coordinator of an NGO, Women for Change Initiative, Mrs. Kate Onyechere testified that she was still in service when Mrs. Jonathan was appointed a permanent secretary.
Ogboru who claimed to have retired from Bayelsa State Civil Service on 31st December, 2014, told the court that she had knew Mrs. Jonathan when her husband was a Deputy Governor.
While being cross-examined by EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness said he did not know when the former first lady stopped collecting salary as a permanent secretary.
On her part, Chief Mrs. Kate Onyechere explained the rationale behind the founding of the Women for Change Initiative by Mrs. Jonathan.
She also revealed the various sources through which the Initiative get fund to carry out its activities.
“The Initiative was formed by Mrs. Jonathan as a normal Non-governmental organization. The main thing is empowerment. We empower Nigerian women across 36 states. We have zonal, states and local government coordinators.
“We organized luncheon and received donations across states to get funds. We also write private individuals to donate. Even, the coordinators also make donations”, she said.
The witness further revealed that Mrs. Jonathan was unanimously adopted by the trustees and coordinators of the Initiative as the sole signatory to its accounts.
While being cross-examined by Oyedepo, the witness named four individuals as Trustees of Women for Change Initiative.
They are; Dr. Chidinma, Mrs. Josephine, Mrs. Jonathan and Mrs. Yemisi Oyewole.
Justice Olatoregun has adjourned further hearing in the matter to 24th May by 11am.
