An aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, has told the Federal High in Lagos that he received and disbursed $10million (about N1.7billion) on his principal’s instructions.
Dudafa is standing trial alongside Joseph Iweujo, a former manager of Heritage Bank.
The two defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty to the 23-count charge of fraud preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They were alleged to have conspired to conceal N1.7 billion belonging to the Federal Government; proceeds they knew were from a criminal activity.
At the resumed trial on Monday, the EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), continued the cross-examination of Dudafa who was the only witness in his own defence.
When asked to re-confirm if he received $10million on the instructions of the ex-President, Dudafa said the money was given to him by Prince Atoeze on Jonathan’s instructions.
“Yes, I did receive the money on behalf of the president, but I was asked to change the sum to local currency and as well disburse same to the various companies’ accounts given to me,” he said.
Dudafa, responding to another question on whether the dollar conversions and payments were made by bureau de change agent, said the funds were disbursed through physical cash transactions to the various accounts.
He also said that he had directed one Bashiru, a bureau de change agent to give Florence Itekese the sum of N15million on the instructions of ex-President Jonathan.
Iweujo, the second accused and a former Yenagoa branch manager of Heritage Bank, was led to open his defence.
In his evidence-in-chief, Iweujo told the court that he managed the branch between 2003 and 2016.
He said the branch office of the bank had managed some of the accounts belonging to the first accused person.
Iweujo also said that the EFCC had asked him to testify against the first accused person or he would be prosecuted.
