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Court Adjourns N1.5 Billion Fraud Case Against Three Companies Used By Former President Jonathan’s Aide

The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos has again adjourned the trial of the three companies alleged to have been used to commit fraud at the tune of N1.5 million naira by Mr. Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, former Senior Special Adviser to former president Goodluck Jonathan.

In light of new developments and the plea by the Economic and Financial Crime Commissions (EFCC) lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, Justice AbdulAziz Anka adjourned the trial of the three companies to the 18th of August, 2016.

The prosecutor informed the court that new evidences have surfaced and the commission will need time to collate the evidences and also amend the charge so that the brain behind the billion naira fraud can be unveiled.

According to the commissions’ lawyer, the addresses of the fraudulent companies were fictitious. He recounted that on visit to the registered addresses of the companies under scrutiny, the commission realized that the addresses were untrue. However, the anti-graft agency discovered one Mr. Bricks Amajuoyi, who incorporated the companies and also acts as secretary of the companies.

It is assumed that Mr. Amajuoyi will be able to state who the real board of directors of these companies are, as investigation by the EFCC has shown that the three men, Agbo Michael, Friday Davies and Warri Fredrick, whose names and pictures appear as the directors of the three companies are driver and menial workers of Mr. Omiebi Sompre. The first accused person who is at large, according to reports.

Michael, Davies and Fredrick have been in EFCC custody since they were arrested in connection with the companies. Justice Anka said he could not grant bail to the three men as they were not charged before him.

Recall that on Tuesday, 9th of August 2010, the three men had told the court that they had no relationship with the said companies and were never aware that any company was opened in their names, neither did they own the millions of naira in the bank accounts opened in their names, pictures and Bank Verification Number (BVN). Also with the revelation of the investigations by the EFCC, the judge refused to rule on the earlier guilty plea of the three men.

The men also took cue from the arguments from the prosecutor and other lawyers in the court who lend a voice to the interpretation of the law, and changed their plea to not guilty.

Nevertheless, the men were still held in detention and even brought to the court today, 18th of August 2018. There was no application for bail filed for them neither was there an application for wrongful detention, which is against their human rights.

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Corruption CRIME