By Jerry Uwah Lagos An aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, yesterday told a Federal High Court, Lagos, that he was not aware of the appointment of the former First Lady, Patience, as a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa state.
Dudafa made the assertion under cross examination in a suit fi led 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.
Joined as defendants in the suit are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Skye Bank, Mr Dudafa and four other companies.
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. At the last adjournment in February, Dudafa had given evidence as plaintiff ’s witness in the suit, while the court adjourned for continuation of trial.
When trial resumed yesterday, 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 Mrs 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.
Mrs Jonathan had accused the anti-graft agency of placing a “nodebit order” on her bank account without a valid court order.
In her fundamental rights suit, she is seeking an order to unfreeze her accounts.
Justice Idris adjourned continuation of trial until March 27.
