The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday
re-arraigned a former Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond
Dokpesi, before a Federal High Court in Abuja on six counts of money
laundering and other charges relating to procurement fraud.
The charges involve N2.1bn which he allegedly received from the
Office of the National Security Adviser between October 2014 and March
19, 2015 to prosecute Peoples Democratic Party’s 2015 presidential media
campaign.
The re-arraignment followed the withdrawal of the case by the Chief
Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta from the former
trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, and the subsequent transfer of
the matter to Justice James Tsoho.
Dokpesi and his firm, Daar Investment and Holdings Ltd, had earlier
denied the charges when they were initially arraigned before Justice
Kolawole on December 9, 2015.
The judge had subsequently on December 14, 2015, granted bail to
Dokpesi in the sum of N200m with two sureties in like sum and fixed
Wednesday for commencement of trial.
However, the trial could not begin as earlier scheduled due to the
need for the matter to start afresh as a result of the transfer of the
case to another judge.
Appearing before Justice Tsoho on Wednesday, Dokpesi, whose defence
team is now being led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), again denied the
charges as he earlier did during his initial arraignment.
The prosecution led by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), accused Dokepsi
and Daar Investment and Holdings Ltd, of receiving, N2.1bn from the
office of the National Security Adviser between October 2014 and March
19, 2015 for the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential media campaign
in breach of provisions of the Public Procurement Act, Money Laundering
(Prohibition) Act and the EFCC (Establishment) Act.
Dokpesi rounded of his plea on Wednesday by responding,
“absolutely, absolutely and absolutely not guilty” to the charges when
read to him.
Justice Tsoho granted a request by the lead defence lawyer,
Olanipekun, to allow Dokpesi on bail in the same terms and conditions
earlier granted him by Justice Kolawole.
The trial was adjourned till March 2 and 3.
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