Society Gists

The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard how a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, allegedly laundered N270.7 million through the bank account of a restaurant.

A prosecution witness in Dudafa’s trial for alleged N5.1 billion fraud, Kayode Temitope Olanrewaju, testified before Justice Mohammed Idris that the funds were laundered in 2013 and 2015.

Dudafa was arraigned for the offence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside Joseph Iwuejo and four companies.

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Olanrewaju, a Compliance Officer with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), testified as the third prosecution witness at the resumed trial of the accused persons.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness identified the restaurant as DJakes Fast-Food and Restaurant.

He stated that Dudafa, his wife, Preye, and his son, Dudafa Jnr., were directors of the restaurant.

According to him, the N270.7 million was transferred to DJakes Fast-Food and Restaurant’s GTBank account in several instalments.

Olanrewaju said on March 18, 2013, N63.2 million was transferred in installments of N3.2 million and N20 million in three tranches.

He said on January 23, 2015, N20 million was transferred to the restaurant’s account by a firm, 313 Bureau De Change. One Abubakar Murtala Bashir credited the same account with N79.2 million on January 26, 2015.

In another instance, the witness stated that N88 million was paid into the account by Danbazau Global Limited and Bambura Global Company. Danbazua Global Limited paid N20.3 million into the same account on January 30, 2015.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Mr. Gboyega Oyewole and Sunday Abumere, the witness informed the court that DJakes Fast-Food and Restaurant’s GTBank account was opened in 2007 in Yenogoa.

Another prosecution witness, also a compliance officer, Mr. Adeniyi Tunde, testified that both accused persons ran the accounts in a manner that ran contrary to banking regulations.

Justice Idris adjourned till December 8, for continuation of trial.

The defendants were arraigned before the court on a 23 count-charge but pleaded not guilty following which they were granted bail.

In the charge, the EFCC said Dudafa and Iwejuo, who also allegedly claimed to be Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah, had between June 11, 2013, and June 2015, used different companies to fraudulently commit the alleged offences.