4 companies pleaded guilty to laundering Patience Jonathan's $15m

Even with their first appear­ance in court, four companies arraigned along­side former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, have pleaded guilty to laundering the sum of $15,591,700.
The companies admitted before the Federal High Court, Lagos that they conspired with Dudafa, a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs and a banker, Adedamo­la Bolodeoku, to launder the said amount.
The former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan is claiming ownership of the money. Last week, Mrs. Jonathan had sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for N200 million for freezing the ac­counts, which the companies de­posited in Skye Bank Plc.

The companies are Pluto Property and Investment Com­pany Limited, Seagate Prop­erty Development and Invest­ment Company Limited; Trans Ocean and Investment Compa­ny Limited, and Avalon Global Property Development Compa­ny Limited.
They were all arraigned by the EFCC.
But, Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku pleaded not guilty to the amended 15-count charge filed against them by the EFCC.
Following the guilty plea of the companies, the EFCC prose­cution led by Mr. Rotimi Oyede­po, prayed the court to allow a short time for a review of the facts, adding that he would not waste the time of the court.
The trial judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, however, declined the prosecution’s request, add­ing that he would adjourn to a further date.
Meanwhile, counsel repre­senting the second and third ac­cused, Messrs Tochukwu Ony­iuke, and Joseph Okebiemen, informed the court of a bail ap­plication filed on behalf of their clients, adding that same has not been opposed.
They urged the court to ad­mit the accused to bail on liberal terms. The counsel representing the first accused, Gboyega Oye­wole, also informed the court that his client was already on bail on existing conditions granted by a brother judge, and urged the court to allow his client en­joy same bail standing.
But, Justice 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.
The judge added that the sureties must be owners of land­ed properties in Lagos, and if a public servant, such surety must produce a letter of introduction from his employer.
The judge also ordered the sureties to submit evidence of tax clearance.
He adjourned the case till September 27 and ordered the accused to be remanded in pris­on custody pending perfection of their bail.
In the amended charge, the EFCC alleged that the accused had between November 13, 2013, and June 2015, used the different companies to commit the offences.
The accused were alleged to have conspired to retain over $15 million, which sum they rea­sonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of crime. The alleged offences are said to be contrary to and pun­ishable under sections 15 (d), 17(a), 18(a), and 27 (3) (c) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004.
The offence is said to have 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. It also contra­vened the provisions of sections 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2012.