By Innocent Anaba

lagos—A Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, granted bail to a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Warpamo Dudafa, in the sum of N500 million. Justice Mohammed Idris granted him the bail with three sureties in like sum.

The court also granted bail to his co-accused, Iwejo Joseph, who is also known as Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah, in the sum of N250 million with two sureties in like sum. The judge added that the sureties must have landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court, while the accused persons must deposit their international passports with the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar.

Meanwhile, the judge ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Prisons custody pending the perfection of their bail terms. He adjourned the case to July 4 and 5 for trial. The accused were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on 23 counts bordering on alleged N5.1 billion fraud.

They had pleaded not guilty to the charge. In the charge, the EFCC alleged that the accused had between June 11, 2013, and June 2015, used different companies to commit the offences. Some of the companies allegedly used in committing the alleged offences includes Seagate Property Development & Investment Ltd, Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd, Iwejuo Joseph Nna and Pluto LUTO Property.

Others are Investment Company Ltd, Iwejuo Joseph Nna and Rotate Interlink Services Ltd. The accused were alleged to have concealed proceeds of a crime in the sum of over N5 billion, contrary to the provisions of the money laundering prohibition act, 2012. The alleged offences are said to be contrary to and punishable under sections 17(a), 18(c), and 27 (3) (c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.