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Shocker! How Dame Patience got enmeshed in multi-million dollar deals
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has established a prima facie case of money laundering against the ex-First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan and 10 others.
The 11 suspects may face trial for alleged money laundering if the recommendation of the investigative team is upheld.
The EFCC declared that “preliminary investigation has also indicted Mrs. Patience Jonathan”.
The 10 suspects indicted in the investigation are:
1. Former Senior Special Assistant (Domestic/Household and Social Events to the former President), Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel;
2. Damola Bolodeoku;
3. Dipo Oshodi;
4. Theodora Varinik;
5. Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited;
6. Seagate Property Development and Investment Limited;
7. Globus Integrated Services Limited;
8. Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and,
9. Skye Bank Plc.
The 10th suspect, Sompre Omiebi, is said to be on the run.
The mobile phones recovered from most of the suspects have revealed how the slush funds were wired.
Mrs. Jonathan has sued Skye Bank, claiming ownership of the accounts.
She is asking for N200 million damages from the bank in addition to demanding that the lid on the accounts be lifted.
The Nation stumbled on a report on the investigation.
It states: “Based on the investigation so far carried out, the four fraudulent VISA Platinum USD card accounts used by Mrs. Patience Goodluck Jonathan has a cumulative balance of $14,029,881.79 which has been swept as Post No Debit Card category.
“Again, her personal account, different from the four fraudulent VISA Platinum USD Card accounts, bears the balance of $5,841,426.17.
“Considering the above-stated findings, we can safely conclude that a prima facie case of conspiracy to retain proceeds of unlawful activities, retention of the proceeds of unlawful activities, money laundering, contrary to Section 15(3) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and forgery contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004 have been established against the aforementioned suspects.”
The EFCC claimed that all the funds traced to Mrs Jonathan’s accounts were proceeds of gratification.
The report said: “The intelligence revealed that Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel fraudulently received various sums of money, being proceeds of gratification and retained same on behalf of the then First Family and for himself.
“In committing the alleged offence, Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel, in grand conspiracy with one Sompre Omiebi and Mrs. Patience Jonathan, procured the services of Mr. Dipo Oshodi, Miss Theodora Vavrinik and Mr. Damola Bolodeoku of Skye Bank Plc to launder and retain the proceeds of their unlawful activities.
“On receipt of the intelligence report, letters of investigation activities were sent to the Corporate Affairs Commission, relevant banks , communication companies, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Chief of Staff to the President, Federal Road Safety Corps and the mobile phones recovered from suspects were analysed.
“Also, the employees of various banks whose names featured, together with Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel, were interviewed and a search carried out .
“Some of the purported directors and signatories to the said companies were arrested and interviewed.”
The report explained that the accumulation of the gratification funds started in 2013 with the registration of four fake firms.
The report added:
“In 2013, the principal suspect, Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel, in a grand conspiracy with Sompre Omiebi and Barr. Amajuoye Azubuike fraudulently registered the following companies:
(a) Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited;
(b) Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited;
(c) Globus Integrated Service Limited;
(d) Seagate Property Development and Investment Limited.
“However, the following persons, Taiwo Ebenezer, Chima John, Friday Davis, Olalekan Bello, Asuquo Charles, Kola Frederick, Rasak Gbodiyam, Ebi Attah, Agbo Baro and Olugbenga Isaiah, named as the purported directors of the companies, have denied knowledge of the registration and any interest in the companies.
“That after the fraudulent registration, the principal suspect, Dr. Dudafa Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel, conspired with Sompre Omiebi and three officials of the Skye Bank Plc, namely Dipo Oshodi, Theodora Varinik and Damola Bolodeoku, to fraudulently open current and VISA Platinum Credit Card ( USD) accounts for the companies.
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