By Jerry Uwah
Lagos
Three companies allegedly used by a former Senior Special Assistant to Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Mr. Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, to defraud the federal government, were yesterday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos,
The three companies are: Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited, and Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited.
Also charged alongside the three companies is one Sombre Omeibi, who is said to be at large.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which arraigned the accused companies alleged that the defendants had on or before November 13, 2013, conspired among themselves to indirectly retain the total sum of $15, 591, 700 which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceed of an unlawful act.
The offences according to EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, are contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
However, there was twist of event, when the three men, namely; Agbo Micheal, Friday Davis, and one Fredrick, presented by EFCC as the directors of the arraigned companies, who had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges, changed their plea, denied having any relationship with the accused companies.
One of the three men, Friday Davis, whom the Commission said his name was used for registering Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and also used to open bank accounts for the company, denied being a director in the company.
Upon the evidence given by the prosecution witness, and the three men’s statement, the presiding judge, Justice AbdulAziz Anka declined to pronounce the three companies guilty as requested by the prosecutor, on the ground that there was no link between those presented by EFCC as the alta ego to the accused companies.
Consequently, Justice Anka adjourned the matter till Thursday.
