Jonathan’s wife may be convicted as Court jails directors of firms linked to her $15.5m
Barring any last minute political undercurrent, indications have emerged that former First lady; Mrs. Patience Jonathan may be in for a big trouble considering the conviction of four directors of four firms linked to the N15.5m money laundering suit instituted by the federal government in Lagos.
Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday convicted the directors of the four companies allegedly used by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s senior special assistant on Domestic Affairs, Warpamo Dudafa, to launder $15.591 million.
The sum involved in the case is the same money which former First Lady, Patience Jonathan claimed belongs to her as the sole signatory to the accounts of the companies.
She, however, denied ownership of the companies.
The directors of the four companies: Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development & Investment Co. Ltd, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Development Company Ltd, had earlier pleaded guilty to the 15-count amended charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They were convicted yesterday after the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, reviewed the facts of the case.
The companies’ directors, who were represented in court by Friday Davis, Agbo Baro, Kola Fredrick and Taiwo Ebenezer, and China John, accepted the facts of the case as presented by the anti-graft agency.
However, the trial judge held that he will sentence the convicted companies at the end of the trial of their co-accused, who pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The jurist said “The ownership issue is still pending. There’s also a pending suit on the matter.”
It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in August, arraigned Dudafa alongside a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs, a Skye Bank official, Demola Bolodeoku, and the four companies on a 15-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and money laundering.
EFCC said the accused persons had, between November 13, 2013, and May 28, 2015, conspired among themselves to conceal, through various banks in Nigeria, the sum of $15. 592,700 million, which they knew to be part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.
The agency also alleged that the accused persons committed the fraud with one Sombre Omeibi, now at large, through accounts number 2110002269, 2110002238, 2110002245, 210002252, 2110002207, 2110002269 and 0122493290, domiciled in Skye Bank Plc.
details of the charges show that the offences, are contrary to section 18(a) and 15(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable Under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
