Companies involved in Patience Jonathan’s ‘money laundering’ case plead guilty

Four companies linked to the alleged money laundering case involving Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, pleaded guilty to the offence at a federal high court in Lagos on Thursday.

The companies – Seagate Property Development & Investment Co. Limited; Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Development Company Limited – pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder $15 million.

Directors of the companies are domestic workers of Waripamowei Dudafa, Jonathan’s special adviser on domestic affairs.

Patience had allegedly directed him to use the money to open accounts for her in Skye Bank.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a 15-count charge against the companies and Dudafa, Amajuoyi Briggs, a lawyer; and Damola Bolodeoku, a Skye Bank official.

After the charges were read to the accused, the first, second and third accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Meanwhile, the four individuals representing the companies listed in the charge, each pleaded guilty to the offences.

Following the guilty plea of the companies, the EFCC prosecution led by Rotimi Oyedepo, prayed the court to allow a short time for review of the facts, adding that he would not waste the time of the court.

Babs Kuewumi, the trial judge, however, declined prosecution’s request and said he would adjourn the matter to a future date.

Meanwhile, counsel representing the second and third accused, Tochukwu Onyiuke, and Joseph Okebiemen, informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of their clients, which had not been opposed.

They urged the court to admit the accused to bail on liberal terms.

Gboyega Oyewole, counsel representing the first accused, also informed the court that his client was already on bail on existing conditions granted by a brother judge,

He urged the court to allow his client enjoy same bail.

To this request of counsel, Kuewumi declined granting bail to the first accused and ordered him to file a formal application for bail before the court.

The court however, granted bail to the second and third accused in the sum of N250 million with one surety in like sum.

Patience has since admitted ownership of the money, saying it is meant for her foreign medical bills and other private expenses.

In a letter which her lawyers wrote to the anti-graft agency, the former first lady said she was the sole signatory to the accounts.

The EFCC had frozen the accounts, saying it found that “this was a clear case of fraud”.

But in her letter, Patience said she had been operating the accounts in the past without hindrance and was shocked to find she could not use her cards on July 7, 2016.