Justice Mohammed Idris of a Lagos Federal High Court, on Monday admitted bail to a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, in the sum of N500 million, with three sureties in the like sum.
The court also admitted bail to his co-accused, Iwejo Joseph Nna who is also known as Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah, in the sum of N250 million with two sureties in the like sum.
Justice Idris also ordered that the sureties who to stand for the two accused persons must have landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court, while the accused persons must deposit their international travel passports with the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR).
The judge, however, ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Prisons Custody pending the perfection of the bail conditions, and adjourned their trial till July 4 and 5.
The two accused persons were arraigned before the court by the anti-graft agency on 23 count-charge bordering on alleged N5.1 billion fraud, and had pleaded not guilty to all the counts charge.
In the charge signed by Rotimi Oyedepo, the 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 different companies to fraudulently steal and commit the alleged offences.
Some of the companies alleged used in committing the alleged offences include; Seagate Property Development & Investment Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited; Iwejuo Joseph Nna and Pluto LUTO Property and Investment Company Limited; Iwejuo Joseph Nna and Rotate Interlink Services Limited.
Others include; Ibejige Services Limited; DE Jakes Fast Food & Restaurant Nigeria Limited; and Ebiwise Resources.
The count one of the charge read in parts; “that you, Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, and Iwejuo Joseph Nna (a.k.a. Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah), on or about the 11th day of June, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: Concealing the proceeds of crime in the sum of N 1, 667,162,800.00 (One Billion, Six Hundred and Sixty Seven Million, One Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira), and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a) of the same Act.”
And count 23 reads; “That you, Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, on April 27, 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court failed to furnish any information in relation to your interest in Ibijige Services Limited as required in page 12 of the Declaration of Assets Form and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 27 (3) (c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.”
The alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 17(a), 18(c), and 27 (3) (c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.
