Four companies linked to the alleged money laundering case involving Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, pleaded guilty to the offence at a federal high court in Lagos on Thursday.
The companies – Seagate Property Development & Investment Co. Limited; Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Development Company Limited – pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder $15 million.
Directors of the companies are domestic workers of Waripamowei Dudafa, Jonathan’s special adviser on domestic affairs.
Patience had allegedly directed him to use the money to open accounts for her in Skye Bank.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a 15-count charge against the companies and Dudafa, Amajuoyi Briggs, a lawyer; and Damola Bolodeoku, a Skye Bank official.
While the companies pleaded guilty, the individual maintained their innocence.
Patience has since admitted ownership of the money, saying it is meant for her foreign medical bills and other private expenses.
In a letter which her lawyers wrote to the anti-graft agency, the former first lady said she was the sole signatory to the accounts.
The EFCC had frozen the accounts, saying it found that “this was a clear case of fraud”.
But in her letter, Patience said she had been operating the accounts in the past without hindrance and was shocked to find she could not use her cards on July 7, 2016.
