The advice purportedly given by a former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, chairman Ibrahim Lamorde to former First Lady Patience Jonathan on where to save her money is in order, an EFCC source told DAILY NIGERIAN.
A former Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, had told the court that Mr Lamorde advised Mrs Jonathan on how to save the money EFCC is accusing her of stealing.
However, the source said the advice was given on a good premise, adding that Mr Lamorde, who is well conversant with the anti-money laundering acts and prohibitions, was only doing his job as an expert, not as an accomplice, on that field.
“Let’s assume Mr lamorde was asked for an advice on how the money should be kept by the first lady. According to Dudafa’s account, Lamorde advised her to open an account, get credit card and use it whenever she travels.
“Recall that when such advice was given, the Bank Verification Number, BVN, was in effect. What then is wrong with that advice, that you must utilise your funds through financial institutions as stipulated by the money laundering act?
“Supposing he advised her (Mrs Jonathan) to keep the money somewhere not in the bank, we could then say there is complicity.
“As far as EFCC is concerned, the advice to utilise funds through financial institutions is what is making the min-boggling recoveries today.
“So, Lamorde should rather be commended for having given the right advice,” the source suggested.
The source went further to insinuate that there is campaign of calumny going on in order to tarnish the image and integrity of Mr Lamorde by twisting the facts of every issue that concerns him.
“But some people are bent on tarnishing the integrity of Mr Lamorde and are bent on twisting the facts of every issue that concerns him.
“This was to all public officers and business men traveling out of the country. Due to high number of Nigerians being arrested overseas and large sums of money being seized from them. Cash transactions are no more fashionable nor tolerated globally.
“To suggest that advice given was to help hide any money, is to display the highest level of ignorance about existing laundering laws all over the world,” the source noted.
