As court fixes March 2 for  trial

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has lined-up 15 witnesses that will testify against the Chairman emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who was yesterday, re-arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

Dokpesi is answering to a six-count criminal charge alongside his firm, DAAR Investment and Holdings Ltd, owners of African Independent Television, AIT, and Raypower FM.

He was alleged to have ?received about N2.1billion from the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, for Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential media campaign.

According to the charge which was signed by the Deputy Director, Legal and Prosecution at the EFCC, Mr. Aliyu Yusuf, the fund was released to the accused person by the erstwhile NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, rtd, ?between October 2014 and March 19, 2015.

The funds were allegedly transferred from an account the ?office of NSA operated with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN?, to a FirstBank? of Nigeria Plc? account owned by DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited

The prosecution maintained that the transaction was in breach of section 58 (4) (b) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and punishable under section 58 (6) and 7 of the same Act, as well as under section 17 (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.

Dokpesi who was initially docked before the high court on December 9, 2015, was re-arraigned by the anti-graft agency yesterday following the transfer of his case-file to ?another trial Judge.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole had originally adjourned for full-blown trial to commence on the case yesterday.

However, at the resumed sitting, EFCC, took Dokpesi before Justice John Tsoho to enter fresh plea to the charge against him.

Though no reason was given on why the case-file was retrieved from Justice Kolawole, Dokpesi, yesterday, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Tsoho subsequently adjourned the matter till March 2 for trial.

The court equally allowed Dokpesi to go home on the same bail conditions that were handed to him by Justice Kolawole.

It will be recalled that the court had on December 19, ordered him to produce two persons that will stand surety for him.