A 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 .”l
