How I Got N1.6B From Dudafa
A witness in the ongoing trial of a former personal assistant on domestic matters to Ex-
President Goodluck Jonathan, Warimpamoowei Emmanuel Dudafa on Monday told the Lagos Federal High Court presided by Justice M.B. Idris how he received a total sum of N1,667,162,800 (One Billion, Six Hundred and Sixty Seven Million, One Hundred Sixty Two Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira Only) from the former presidential aide between 2013 and 2015 through five different companies.
The companies are Pluto Properties and Investment Limited, Avalon Global Property, Rotato Interlink Services, Seagate Property and Ebiwise Services Limited.
The witness, Murtala Bashir Abubakar made the disclosure when he was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo.
The witness a Bureau de Change operator who plies his trade under three different companies, Na Mu Duka Ventures, Yamusa Oil Services Limited and 313 Ventures, informed the court that he knew Dudafa since his time as Commissioner for Local Government in Bayelsa State in the administration of Governor Timipre Sylva.
He further told the court that the relationship between the two of them was that of forex dealings , a relationship that continued up to the time Dudafa became personal assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan.
In explaining the nature of their transaction, the witness informed the court that Dudafa usually sent two of his staff, Festus and German with Dollars for exchange and deposited the Naira equivalent into specific accounts provided by Dudafa via text messages.
The witness disclosed the text messages he received from Dudafa on his Samsung mobile phone. The mobile phone as well as Ownership Attestation Form were admitted and marked as Exhibits E and E1 respectively.
When asked whether all the instructions on how to disburse the money were received via text messages, Muratala said all of it but the last
transaction in which Dudafa invited him to the Presidential Villa and handed him $4,000,000 (Four Million Dollars cash.
The witness was presented with exhibits A-B3 in which he identified all the transactions between himself and Dudafa from 2013 to 2015 both from his companies’ accounts and his personal account.
In the end of the examination in chief, the witness confirmed that all the Dollars
he received during the transactions in question, came from Dudafa.
When it was time for the defence to proceed with cross examination of the witness, counsel representing Dudafa, Gboyega Oyewale requested for an adjournment. Sunday Abumeri, counsel to the second defendant also aligned with the position of Oyewale in seeking
for an adjournement.
Rotimi Oyedepo objected the prayer of the two counsel but Justice Idris eventually granted the application of the defence counsel and adjourned the matter to September 27 for continuation of trial.
Olaoluwa Folalu