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Banker, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and 11 others are to
testify on how four slush accounts were opened for former First Lady
Patience Jonathan, The Nation learnt yesterday.
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) has tightened security around the 13 witnesses ahead
of the trial’s resumption on September 27.
The accounts were opened by the
ex-First Lady’s former Senior Special Assistant (Domestic / Household
and Social Events to the former President), Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei
Emmanuel.
Dudafa and six others were last Thursday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Others are a lawyer Amajuoyi Briggs, a
banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku; Pluto Property and Investment Company
Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited; Globus
Integrated Service Limited; and Seagate Property Development and
Investment Limited.
A document attached to the charge sheet
indicates that 12 witnesses, including an account officer, will tell
the court how the current and VISA Platinum Credit Card ( USD) accounts
were opened.
The document lists the accounts in Skye
Bank Plc as follows: 1771420773 and 2110002238 ( Pluto Property and
Investment and Company Limited); 1771420797 and 2110002245(Trans Ocean
Property and Investment and Company Limited); 1771421299 0and 2110002269
(Globus Integrated Services Limited) and 1771420780and 2110002207
(Seagate Property Development and Investment Limited).
The identities of the13 witnesses are being shielded for security reasons.
It was learnt that some of them have been under pressure, especially the key Account Officer, in the past few days.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said:
“We are set for the trial on how the slush accounts were opened for the
former First Lady. We have filed a list of 13 witnesses along with
our Proof of Evidence to show that we conducted due diligence.
“The Account Officer, who managed the
slush funds, will tell the court the remittances into the accounts and
how the ex-First Lady operated them. I think Nigerians have not heard
the last on these slush accounts. This is not a case of witchhunt.
“We have also taken adequate measures to
protect all the witnesses in order to enable them to testify against
encumbrances. We know some of the witnesses have been under pressure but
we will ensure their safety.
“It is imperative to protect these
witnesses because we have availed the defence their names in line with
the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. This may expose the
witnesses to some risks which are being taking care of.”
The former First Lady is said to have sued the EFCC, demanding that her accounts be defrozen.
But the EFCC said: “We are still
investigating her and she cannot operate all these accounts until she is
able to give the details of the sources of funds remitted into the
accounts,” the source said, adding:
“Our findings showed that the remittances were products of gratification. It is left for her to prove otherwise.
“Already, the team which investigated
the case has declared that she has a case to answer. But we need to dig
more before determining her fate.”
The report of the investigative team
said in part: “Investigation so far carried out has revealed that the
four VISA Platinum USD Card accounts used by Mrs. Patience Jonathan has
a cumulative balance of $14,029.881.79 which has been swept Post No
Debit Card category.
“Again, her personal account, different from the four VISA Platinum USD card accounts, bears the balance of $5,841,426.17.
“Considering the above stated findings, we can safely conclude that a prima facie
case of conspiracy to retain proceeds of unlawful activities, retention
of the proceeds of unlawful activities, money laundering, contrary to
Section 15(3) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition)
(Amendment) Act, 2012 and forgery contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the
Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004 have
been established against the aforementioned suspects.”
The EFCC claimed that all the funds traced to Mrs. Jonathan’s accounts were proceeds of gratification.
The report said: “The intelligence
revealed that Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel fraudulently received
various sums of money, being proceeds of gratification, and retained
same on behalf of the then First Family and for himself .”
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