An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Orji Chukwuma, on Friday told a Federal High Court in Lagos how former President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly instructed his ex-aide, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, to receive 10 suitcases from his ADC and to keep same in the presidential bedroom.
Dudafa is being tried alongside his one-time account officer in Heritage Bank, Joseph Iwuejo.
They were arraigned last year on 23-counts bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
EFCC alleged that they used various companies to launder various sums of money running into about N5.1bn between June 2013 and June 2015.
The company allegedly used by the defendants were listed as Seagate Property Development & Investment Limited; Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited; Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; and Rotate Interlink Services Limited; Ibejige Services Limited; DeJakes Fast Food & Restaurant Nigeria Limited; and Ebiwise Resources.
The offence contravened Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a) of the same Act.
During cross examination by Mr. Ige Ashimudara, (lawyer to the second defendant) before Justice Mohammed Idris, Chukwuma said that the defendant wrote a statement where he recalled how Jonathan called him and instructed that he should receive the suitcases.
“Sometimes in 2014, I was called by the President, he instructed that I should wait for the ADC who handed over to me 10 bags as directed by the President. I received the 10 bags and dropped it in the inner room”, part of the statement read.
The suitcases, according to him, contained hard currency that the CBN was directed to release.
The case was adjourned till March 16 for continuation of hearing.
