The sureties are to swear to affidavit of
residence, they must also be landed property owners within the jurisdiction of
the court, the title deed of such properties must be deposited with the Chief
Registrar of the court.
He was also ordered to deposit his
international passport with the court.
However, the second accused, Iwejuo Joseph,
a.k.a Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah who were arraigned alongside Dudafa
were granted bail in the sum of N250million with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties must also be a landed property
owners and must produce three years tax clearance with affidavit of residence.
The sureties must also deposit the title documents of their landed property
with the court. Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) was mandated to
verify all the documents of the sureties.
Thereafter, the presiding Judge Mohammed Idris
adjourned till 4th of July for trial of the accused persons to commence.
The the two accused, Dudafa and Iwejo Joseph,
were arraigned before the court on 23 count-charge bordering on alleged
conspiracy and N5.1 billion fraud, by the EFCC.
The two accused persons pleaded not guilty to
all the counts charge. Consequently upon their pleas, the EFCC prosecutor,
Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to remand them in prison Custody, and fix a
date for trial
In the criminal charge filed before the court
by Rotimi Oyedepo, it was 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 total sum of
The companies alleged to have been used in
committing the alleged offences are, 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.”
while 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.
Tbe 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.
The court then adjourned for the bail
application to be argued. Arguing Dafuda’s bail application, his lawyer,
Gboyega Oyewole, told the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal
term.
Oyewole told the court that his client was in
the EFCC’s Custody for 60 days before he was charged to court. Adding that the
charge against his client was a bailable one, while the maximum punishment if
convicted is five years.
He further argued that there was no
complainant who has claimed that he or she is a victim of the offence which his
client is being charge against with.
He urged the court to discountenance the
Commission’s argument that if his client is admitted to bail he will not
interfere with the witness and evidence while adding exhibits attached to the
charge are not certified. He therefore urged the court to admit his client to
bail in the most liberal terms.
He added that his client is a man of substance
who was once a member of Balyesa House of Assembly, a Special Advice to Balyesa
State Government, and Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to former President
Goodluck Jonathan.
Counsel to the second accused person, Joseph
Nna who is also known as Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah, Mr. Sunday
Abumere, while aligned himself with the lawyer to Dafuda equally urged the
court to admit the accused to bail to h in the most liberal terms.
In opposing the accused persons’ bail
applications, EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said the Commission’s opposition to
bail applications was premise on the ground that the first accused was arrested
by the men of Department of State Security, DSS, at the departure Hall of
Murtala Muhammad International Airport, where he was to board an Arik Airline
to London.
He said the Commission directed the DSS to
place Dafuda on watchlist after he consistently evades arrest.
He also told the court that if the accused
persons were admitted to bail, such could affect those the Commission wanted to
arrest in connection with the offence.
However, the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed
Idris after listening to the submission of both parties, adjourned the ruling
on bail applications till today June 20,2016.
Culled from Today.ng
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