EFCC Traces N900 Million to Jonathan’s Domestic Aide’s Account

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has allegedly recovered N900m from Waripamowei Dudafa, a former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to reports from the Punch, a reliable EFCC source said on Sunday that the money was found in one of Dudafa’s accounts. He said the account was subsequently frozen by the anti-graft commission.

The source said, “Dudafa told us that he had no money; so, we began to investigate his accounts. We then found N900m that was hidden in one of his accounts through the connivance of his account officer.

“Dudafa initially denied owning the account but when he was confronted with evidence, he had no choice but to admit. Some people, who had paid money into the account based on Dudafa’s instructions, even came forward to say that the account indeed belonged to Dudafa. The N900m will be used as evidence against him in court.”

Dudafa, who is a kinsman of Jonathan, was arrested on April 18 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

He alongside the former President’s Aide-de-Camp, Colonel Ojogbane Adegbe, was accused of giving N10bn to delegates at the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party in December 2014.

The EFCC had alleged that the money was diverted by the Office of the National Security Adviser from a Signature Bonus Account in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Adegbe was arrested but later released, Dudafa arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services upon arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos after spending some time in Dubai.

Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, had earlier allegedly admitted to transferring the money to Ojogbane and Dudafa.

“That I am aware in November, I cannot remember the exact date, my office requested the CBN to exchange N10bn from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser domiciled in CBN. The money was exchanged and $47m and some Euros, which I cannot remember the exact amount, were delivered at my residence.

“The money was for delegates that attended the nomination convention for the PDP presidential nomination. The money was paid and sent to Hon. Dudafa (SSAP, Household) and ADC(C-I-C) for distribution on the instruction of the President.”