$15.5m Fraud: Trial of Ex-President Jonathan’s Aide, Dudafa, Resumes April 3

A Federal High Court Lagos, on Wednesday, adjourned till April 3, continuation of trial of Waripamo Dudafa, an ex-aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, on a $15.5 million fraud charges.
Dudafa is being tried alongside a former staff of Skye Bank Plc, Adedamola Bolodeoku, and a legal practitioner, Amajuoyi Briggs, on a 17-count charge.
The accused persons are standing trial before Justice Babs Kuewumi and had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumption of trial on Wednesday, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, tendered some documents through his witness, Mr Uche Obiakor, a Deputy Manager in Skye Bank.
The witness had earlier given evidence on how the first accused person opened accounts with the bank.
Some of the documents tendered by the prosecution include: Skye Bank letters to the EFCC on the account opening packages of four companies.
The companies are: Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, TransOcean Property and Investment Company Ltd, and Avalon Global Property Development Ltd.
However, counsels to the accused persons, Mr Gboyega Oyewole, Mr Ige Asemudara and Mr. Joseph Okobieme, unanimously objected to the admissibility of the documents,
They argued that the attached documents were photocopies, adding that the EFCC was not the original maker of the documents.
In response, Oyedepo urged the court to admit the document sought to be tendered.
He argued that it was not the duty of the court to separate the letters from the attachments, adding that if the letters are admitted, the attachment must go with the them.
After listening to the arguments of counsels, Justice Kuewumi fixed April 3 for ruling.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravened the provisions of sections 15 (d), 17(a), 18(a), and 27 (3) (c) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004.
The offences also contravened the provisions of sections 1(2) (c), and 1(19) (6) of the Miscellaneous offence Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004.