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 .”