SAN FRANCISCO, May 31, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned delivery of judgment in the case of a former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, who was charged with N1.6bn fraud.
Dudafa, alongside Joseph Iwuejo, was arraigned on 13 counts by the EFCC which accused them of laundering N1.6b, said to be proceeds of crime.
But Dudafa, in his defence, told the court that the N1.6bn found in the account of Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited, which the EFCC linked to him, was not proceeds of fraud but part of the money donated to the Anglican Communion of Otuoke Community, Bayelsa State, to which ex-President Jonathan was a trustee.
Dudafa said following a fundraiser organised in Lagos, the ex-President instructed him to follow up with Prince Arthur Eze, who pledged $10m (about N1.8bn) for the building of the St. Stephens Youth Development Centre, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.
He said he got an ex-military man, Somprie Omiebi, who lodged the money in the Heritage Bank account of Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited.
Justice Mohammed Idris had fixed Friday to deliver judgment in the case but told parties that in the course of writing the judgment he discovered an area on which the parties would need to further address him.
He said he would not want to go ahead with the judgment without taking further address from the lawyers, lest the judgment is overturned at the Court of Appeal.
He then directed the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, and the defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) and Ige Asemudara, to address him on the relationship between the provisions of Section 27(3)(c) and sections 72, 16 and 17 of the EFCC Establishment Act.
The parties agreed to file their addresses by Monday while the judge said he would then fix a new date for judgment.
