N1.6bn traced to me belongs to Anglican Church - Waripamo-Owei Dudafa
- Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, a former aide to the ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan, says he is innocent of all the N1.6bn corruption charges brought against him by the EFCC
- Dudafa urges the Federal High Court in Lagos to discharge and acquit him of all the charges brought against him
Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, a former aide to the ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan, has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that the N1.6 billion traced to him by the EFCC belongs to the Anglican Communion of Otuoke community in Bayelsa state.
Dudafa who spoke through his lawyer, Adegboyega Oyewole (SAN), said he was innocent of all the corruption charges brought against him and urged the court to discharge and acquit him, The New Telegraph reports.
"The source of the money is known. The money was not mine, it belongs to the Anglican Communion of Otuoke Community in Bayelsa state," he said.
“It was realised from the fundraiser organised by the church and former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who is a member and grand patron of the Anglican Church.
Dudafa explained that the money was gotten at a fundraiser where a businessman, Prince Arthur Eze, who was the chief donor, pledged $10 million.
He stated that Jonathan instructed him to follow up with Eze to redeem his pledge. Dudafa said the chief donor redeemed the pledge instalmentally, noting that the money was kept in the bank account of one, Somprei Someibi.
“I was just carrying out the instructions of the former President. The funds were not mine. I know as a fact that the source of the funds was lawful and the money paid into various accounts are not unlawful, except they (EFCC) are saying that the fundraiser was illegal.
“I’m innocent. I want the charges to be dismissed and for the court to discharge and acquit me,” Dudafa said.
Meanwhile, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has recently visited Dubai for intelligence gathering and tracing of stolen assets.
Leadership reports that Magu, who is attending a three-day event of the 2019 Intersec Security Summit with crack detectives from the commission, met with Dubai intelligence community over the need to block such illicit funds from coming to Nigeria.
A source who spoke to the press said: “I can tell you authoritatively that the acting EFCC chairman met with Dubai intelligence in company of crack detectives for intelligence sharing and cooperation."
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