Court Frees Jonathan’s Ex-Aide, Dudafa

A Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos on Thursday has discharged and acquitted former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on senior special assistant on domestic,  Waripamo Owei-Dudafa over an alleged N1.6billion fraud charge.

Justice Mohammed Idris in a 190-page judgment held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to prove any of the 22-charge beyond reasonable doubt against Owei-Dudafa and a Heritage Bank staff, Joseph Iwejuo.

Justice Idris held that EFCC’s case was “based on suspicions” and suspicions “cannot take the place of legal evidence.”

Justice Idris also held that the EFCC failed to call vital witnesses, like Jonathan, the former NSA Sambo Dasuki, and even the CBN governor, and such failure was fatal to the case of the EFCC.

The judge held that a particular vital witness, Sompre Omeibi, who could have linked the defendants to the offences, was not summoned to testify.

He also said the Prosecution failed to carry out a proper investigation as the EFCC did not conclude its investigation before rushing to court, thereby living loopholes.

The court also dismissed the EFCC’s claim that the bags delivered by Dudafa to Jonathan contained dollars.

Justice Idris held that there was no proof for that.

“How did the prosecution know that the bags contained dollars?” the judge wondered again.

Justice Idris, therefore, dismissed the entire 22 counts charge against Dudafa and Iwuejo.