[Adesewa]

 Dame Patience Jonathan

The four companies arraigned yesterday alongside a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, have pleaded guilty to laundering $15,591,700.

The companies admitted before a Federal High Court in Lagos that they conspired with Dudafa; a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs; and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku, to launder the money.

The companies are: Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development & Investment Co. Limited; Trans Ocean and Investment Company Limited, and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited.

They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. But Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku pleaded not guilty to the amended 15 counts filed against them by the EFCC. The EFCC had since frozen the $15.6m found in the four companies’ accounts in Skye Bank. Wife of former President Jonathan, Patience, is laying claim to the money.

Following the guilty plea of the companies, the EFCC prosecution, led by Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, prayed the court to allow a short time for review of the facts, adding that he would not waste the time of the court.