- Waripamo-Owei Dudafa says he is not aware Patience Jonathan was once appointed permanent secretary in Bayelsa state while she was first lady
- Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Skye Bank, Dudafa and four other companies are joined as defendants in the frozen $15.5 million suit
- Continuation of the trial is adjourned till March 27
An aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, on Monday, March 26, told a Federal High Court in Lagos that he was not aware of the appointment of the former first lady, Patience, as a permanent secretary in Bayelsa.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dudafa made the assertion under cross examination in a suit filed by Mrs Jonathan, seeking to vacate a ‘no debit’ order placed on her account containing 15.5 million dollars (N5.5 billion) domiciled with Skye Bank.
The report said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Skye Bank, Dudafa and four other companies are joined as defendants in the suit.
The companies are Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Globus Integrated Service Ltd.
READ ALSO: President Buhari hosts family of late Martin Luther King Jnr in Aso Rock
According to the report, at the resumed trial, the witness moved into the box and was reminded of his oath, while counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, continued his cross-examination.
Oyedepo asked the witness if he was aware that Patience Jonathan was a permanent secretary in the employ of the Bayelsa state government, and in response, Dudafa said he was not aware as it was not part of his schedule to know.
Oyedepo: Are you aware that the plaintiff’s appointment was confirmed on June 23, 2012.
Dudadfa: I don’t know.
When Oyedepo asked the witness if he will be surprised to know that the account which held the funds in issue was opened when Mrs Jonathan was a serving permanent secretary in the employ of the Bayelsa state government, the witness again replied: I don’t know when the account was opened.
The report said meanwhile, Oyedepo asked the witness: “If you see the letter of appointment and the confirmation letter, will you know?” But the counsel to the plaintiff, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), raised an objection on the grounds that the witness was not the maker of the documents or was he aware of its content.
It was learnt that the counsel to the third and fourth defendants, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), agreed with the submissions of Adedipe.
When Oyedepo argued that Ozekhome could not align with the submissions of Adedipe, Justice Mohammed Idris held that the witness had denied knowledge of the appointment and that the documents had not yet been tendered before the court.
Besides, the court held that cross-examination was not limited to questions raised in the examination-in-chief and that the line of questioning was allowed to the extent of showing the witness the documents.
PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app
In continuation of his cross-examination, Oyedepo asked the witness if he deposed to his witness statement on oath on behalf of the plaintiff to which he replied: “I deposed as a witness.”
Oyedepo posed the question again, insisting that Dudafa had yet to answer same, and the witness retorted: “I will not be cajoled, I am under oath.”
Oyedepo then said: “Read paragraph two of the plaintiff’s statement on oath; did you not state that it was on behalf of the plaintiff?”
Witness: It is on behalf of the plaintiff.
Justice Idris adjourned continuation of trial until March 27.
NAIJ.com earlier reported that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday, December 4, adjourned hearing of Patience Jonathan's suit seeking to unfreeze her accounts till January 19, 2018.
Jonathan replies to Buhari's allegations | NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng