N5.1bn alleged fraud: Jonathan’s ex-aide critically sick

Counsel for Waripamo-Counsel for Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, the former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday, informed a Federal High Court in Lagos that his client was critically ill.

Dudafa’s lawyer, Mr Gboyega Oyewole, informed the court that he was surprised when he came to court and he did not see his client (Dudafa), and on inquiry from the prison’s officials, he was told that Dudafa is seriously sick that is why they didn’t bring him to court.

Oyewole also informed the court that the anti-graft agency had flagrantly disobeyed the order of the court in handing over his client’s international passport to the court’s Registry as directed by the court.

Dudafa’s proposed trial, which could not go on, was consequently adjourned  due to the absence of the prosecuting counsel, Mr  Rotimi Oyedepo, who was said to be before a Lagos Division of Appeal Court.

Dudafa and one Iwejuo Joseph Nna, also known as Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah, are standing trial before Justice Mohammed Idris on an alleged N5.1 billion fraud.

The two accused persons were alleged to have used four companies namely; Pluto Property Development Company Limited, Avalon Property Development Company Limited, Seagate Property Development Company Limited, Rotato Property Development Company Limited and Ebiwise Resources Limited.

The EFCC’s letter authored by Rotimi Oyedepo, had asked the court for an adjournment to enable them to attend an appeal filed by Mr  Ricky Tarfa Mohammed, against the commission in suit number CA/497/2016.

He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn the matter till  tomorrow.

However, though not opposing the adjournment sought for by the prosecution, Dudafa’s lawyer informed the court that the prosecutor, who had his phone number, ought to have called and informed him of the development, rather than hearing of it in court.

Consequently, Justice Mohammed Idris granted the prosecutor’s application and adjourned the matter till tomorrow for continuation of trial of the accused persons.

Dudafa and Nna, who are also alleged to be bearing Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah, and five limited liabilities companies are standing trial before the court on 23 counts charge bordering on the alleged offence.

The companies charged alongside the two accused persons are; Seagate Property Development & Investment Limited, Ebiwise Resources Limited; Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited; Lutato Interservices Limited and Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited.

It will be recalled that at the duo were arraigned before the court by the anti-graft agency on 23 count-charge bordering on alleged N5.1 billion fraud, by the EFCC, and they had pleaded not guilty to all the counts charge.

In the charge EFCC alleged that Dudafa, and Joseph Nna, who also claimed to be Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah, had between June 11, 2013, and June 2015, used the named companies to fraudulently commit the alleged offences.