Hearing could not continue at a Lagos Federal High Court, Thursday where three persons and four companies are standing trial for alleged cover up in the $15.5 million belonging to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.
At the resumed hearing of matter Thursday, Mr Ademola Adefolaju who holds the brief of Mr Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, lawyer to former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to President Jonathan, Dr Waripamo Dudafa, told the court that he was surprised at the absence of the prosecutor.
Adefolaju told the court that in view of the prosecutor,’s absence, he would be asking for adjournment, for the prosecutor to come and attend to his matter.
In the same vain, counsel to the second defendant, Mr Ige Asemudara while expressing surprise at the absence of the prosecutor, said the court adjourned for today so that his application could be heard.
Chief Mike Ozekhome counsel to the companies named in the charge, in his own submission said that since the prosecutor was absent, he would be asking for an adjournment.
After listening to the defence counsels, the trial judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi adjourned the matter till January 17,2019.
It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier arraigned the former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to President Jonathan, Dr Waripamo Dudafa, a lawyer Amajuoyi Briggs, who is the companies’ secretary, and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku and four companies for disguising the origin of the $15.5m said to belong to former first lady Patience Jonathan.
The four companies who had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge are Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited, Transocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Globus Integrated Service Limited .
However, Dr Waripamo Dudafa, Amajuoyi Briggs and Adedamola Bolodeoku had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
