The founder of Daar Communications PLC, Raymond Dokpesi, has been asked to return to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, pending the ruling on his application for bail on Monday.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, said the adjournment would help him look critically at the arguments presented by both counsel, since he had just been briefed on the matter, for the first time.
Counsel to Mr. Dokpesi, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, had asked the judge to rule on his earlier application for bail for his client.
He said his application included exhibits, A4 to A8 which made his client’s bail very necessary.
He listed the exhibits to include Mr. Dokpesi’s application to travel abroad, as well his ticket from British Airways, contained in exhibits A4 and A5, respectively.
He said the judge should disregard the argument of the prosecution which contended that other matters might arise.
“He is saying that there could be other charges in future relating to about N8.4 billion, involving a certain FIFA Under-17 World Cup,” Mr. Ozekhome said.
He called on the judge to avoid acting on speculation.
Mr. Ozekhome called the judge’s attention to the upcoming wedding of Mr. Dokpesi’s son, as well as the challenges he claimed to have experienced in reaching his client as other reasons the bail application should be granted.
He added that the defendant had the right to properly organise his counsel and witnesses in preparation of his case.
Mr. Ozekhome further argued that the alleged offences were ‘bail-able’ according to Section 16, sub sections nine, of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
But counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, said the defendant was not entitled to bail, based the materials provided by Mr. Ozekhome.
He asked the judge to look into the nature of the matter before him, including the evidences and consider the possibility of Mr. Dokpesi jumping bail.
He said there were ample evidence that N2.1 billion was paid through the account of the NSA to the defendant’s company for a campaign in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 general election.
The money, he alleged, was paid from funds allocated for the war against terrorism.
Mr. Jacobs added that there was evidence that the N2.1 billion was received between January 22 to March 15, 2015, during the election.
“Even if it was just a coincidence; what is the nature of the contract? Mr Jacobs asked, adding that there was no contract for the said sum”.
He also said in paragraph 12 of his brief of argument that Mr. Dokpesi allegedly received the sum of N8billion, and N47million during the Under-17 FIFA World Cup, in 2012, in a fraudulently organised contract.
Mr. Jacobs further argued that the letter of appointment for Mr. Dokpesi’s treatment abroad referred to by Mr. Ozehkome was sent on the December 5, when he was already in the custody of the EFCC.
He said exhibit A4 was also sent that same day, referring to the British Airways reservation ticket earlier mentioned by Mr. Ozekhome.
Mr. Jacobs said granting Mr. Dokpesi bail would compromise the ongoing trial.
He therefore asked Mr. Kolawole to refuse the application for bail.
After listening to arguments from both parties, Justice Kolawole adjourned till December 14, for ruling.
“The defendant shall have to return to the custody of the EFCC,” he said.
Mr. Dokpesi is facing prosecution for allegedly receiving N2.1billion from the office of the National Security Adviser for PDP’s presidential media campaign.
The money was allegedly disbursed from funds earmarked for the procurement of arms for the fight against insurgency.
He was arraigned alongside his firm, DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited, owners of African Independent Television, AIT and Raypower FM.
The funds, which were allegedly released to the accused persons between October, 2014 and March 19, 2015, were allegedly transferred from an account the office of the NSA operated with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to a First Bank of Nigeria Plc account owned by DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited.
The offence was a 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. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I wonder what they always look for abroad whenever they are facing charges. What is he looking for? Dasuki want to travel abroad for medical treatment and I wonder why. When they are receiving the billions, did they travel abroad or was it received abroad? We have a set of very fraudulent people in the rich-class and that is why they are rich not because the poor cannot compete with them. I am very disappointed with Ozekhome too, he now represent the very fraudulent in our society. Anyway, the blood of our innocent soldiers who were courageous enough to face the deadly Boko Haram without arms and ammunitions wont stop crying for vengeance. All those that are involved in this scam will never go scot free.
ReplyDeleteAnd people were calling Dasuki and all these crooks victims of witch hunt, when the lives of innocent combatant were taken away because of no fault of their own, wives have become widows, children orphans, Villages and communities sacked and this persons sat in the comfort of their homes sharing proceeds that were meant to save lives of citizens of the federal republic of Nigeria Jail them!!!!!!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteJustice Gabriel Kolawole
Rotimi Jacobs (SAN)
Yemi Osinbanjo * former attorney general of Lagos State now VP
is remotely controlling this matter.
Chief Dokpesi is from Edo State and badder than three of them combined.
One Mr Toyin Subair defrauded the whole Nigeria with fake cable Tv called HITV.
Mr Subair wife and VP Osinbanjo wife are sisters, they all live in VGC Lekki.
Toyin Subair was never called to question...EFCC must call him to question too
ReplyDeleteJustice Gabriel Kolawole
Rotimi Jacobs (SAN)
Yemi Osinbanjo * former attorney general of Lagos State now VP
is remotely controlling this matter.
Chief Dokpesi is from Edo State and badder than three of them combined.
One Mr Toyin Subair defrauded the whole Nigeria with fake cable Tv called HITV.
Mr Subair wife and VP Osinbanjo wife are sisters, they all live in VGC Lekki.
Toyin Subair was never called to question...EFCC must call him to question too
EDO NO DEY FEAR FACE OOOOO..
ReplyDeleteYES NA TRUE TALK OOO, VP OSIBANJO IS REMOTELY USING JUSTICE KOLAWOLE
AND ROTIMI JACOBS TO FIGHT CHIEF DOKPESI BY REFUSING HIM BAIL...
DID CHIEF KILL SOMEBODY???...DEM PAY AM MONEY TO DO CAMPAIGN FOR PDP
NA HIM BE IN CRIME WHEY EFFC COME THEY DETAIN AM PUT SOOO..
PEOPLE WEY DON DEY KILL KILL DEY THIEF BILLION BILLION SINCE FOR THIS COUNTRY
NO BODY DO THEM ANYTHING OOOO ...
WE BE EDO OOO, WE NO DEY FEAR FACE OOO,,,KPATA KPATA WE GO FOLLOW BIAFRA OOO
OR WE JOIN NIGER DELTA OOO FOR THIS GBEGE WEY UNA DEY FINE SOOOO..
MAKE UNA LEAVE CHIEF OOO, NA HIM DAAR COMMUNICATION BIZNESS HIM DEY
TAKE CHOP OOO
ReplyDeleteEDO NO DEY FEAR FACE OOOOO..
YES NA TRUE TALK OOO, VP OSIBANJO IS REMOTELY USING JUSTICE KOLAWOLE
AND ROTIMI JACOBS TO FIGHT CHIEF DOKPESI BY REFUSING HIM BAIL...
DID CHIEF KILL SOMEBODY???...DEM PAY AM MONEY TO DO CAMPAIGN FOR PDP
NA HIM BE IN CRIME WHEY EFFC COME THEY DETAIN AM PUT SOOO..
PEOPLE WEY DON DEY KILL KILL DEY THIEF BILLION BILLION SINCE FOR THIS COUNTRY
NO BODY DO THEM ANYTHING OOOO ...
WE BE EDO OOO, WE NO DEY FEAR FACE OOO,,,KPATA KPATA WE GO FOLLOW BIAFRA OOO
OR WE JOIN NIGER DELTA OOO FOR THIS GBEGE WEY UNA DEY FINE SOOOO..
MAKE UNA LEAVE CHIEF OOO, NA HIM DAAR COMMUNICATION BIZNESS HIM DEY
TAKE CHOP OOO
EDO NO DEY FEAR FACE OOOOO..
ReplyDeleteYES NA TRUE TALK OOO, VP OSIBANJO IS REMOTELY USING JUSTICE KOLAWOLE
AND ROTIMI JACOBS TO FIGHT CHIEF DOKPESI BY REFUSING HIM BAIL...
DID CHIEF KILL SOMEBODY???...DEM PAY AM MONEY TO DO CAMPAIGN FOR PDP
NA HIM BE IN CRIME WHEY EFFC COME THEY DETAIN AM PUT SOOO..
PEOPLE WEY DON DEY KILL KILL DEY THIEF BILLION BILLION SINCE FOR THIS COUNTRY
NO BODY DO THEM ANYTHING OOOO ...
WE BE EDO OOO, WE NO DEY FEAR FACE OOO,,,KPATA KPATA WE GO FOLLOW BIAFRA OOO
OR WE JOIN NIGER DELTA OOO FOR THIS GBEGE WEY UNA DEY FINE SOOOO..
MAKE UNA LEAVE CHIEF OOO, NA HIM DAAR COMMUNICATION BIZNESS HIM DEY
TAKE CHOP OOO
Robocop or Anonymous 9:22 If you care weep as much sentiment as you wish, a crime has been committed no matter who committed it must pay!!! yes Dokpesi was paid monies for campaign by who? does the office of the NSA disburse monies for political party campaign in Nigeria if not fraud? the fact is same office has been found to have looted funds meant for arms procurement which resulted to the country territory being taken over by Boko Haram, and investigation shows that some of the monies were also traced to Dokpesi, and how on earth would he not be arrested? Is the Office of the NSA bank that pays contractors? Even Okonja Oweala who was the finance Minister can no longer explain such muddle-up of facts, she is startled....Dokpesi needed monies so much but refuse to accept jingles I heard from other political parties in his TV stations yet if I can Quote You "NA HIM DAAR COMMUNICATION BIZNESS HIM DEY TAK CHOP OOO" yet he select advert monies him dey take chop ooo! brother or sister you may be,their game is up!!!!
ReplyDelete