The Federal Government is investigating
businessman Raymond Dokpesi for his
alleged involvement in another fraud
involving about N8billion, the government’s
lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), yesterday told
a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Jacobs said the Federal Government was
about rounding off investigations into a
fresh allegation of N8.4billion the AIT/
Raypower emeritus chairman collected from
the Goodluck Jonathan administration for
airing the FIFA U17 championship which
Nigeria hosted in January 27,2012.
He said though the airing right was granted
his company, DAAR Communication, by
FIFA and without the Federal Government
as a party to the contract, Dokpesi allegedly
collected N8b from the government for the
execution of the contract.
Jacobs was arguing the government’s
counter-affidavit against Dokpesi’s bail
application.
Dokpesi was arraigned with his company,
Daar Investment and Holding Company
Limited, on Wednesday on a six-count
charge. He was accused of unlawfully
receiving N2.1billion from former National
Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Sambo
Dasuki.
He pleaded not guilty and applied for bail.
Parties argued the bail application and the
prosecution’s counter affidavit yesterday.
Jacobs, urging the court to reject Dokpesi’s
application, argued that a bail to Dokpesi
will prejudice investigation into the N8b
allegation.
He urged the court to take a judicial look at
the government’s affidavit evidence, which
indicated that no contract paper was
exchanged by Dokpesi and any agent of the
government when the N2.1b was paid to
him.
Jacobs faulted Dokpesi’s claim of ill-health,
noting that not only did he fail to disclose
the nature of his illness, the letter of
appointment with the physicians exhibited
by Dokpesi was sent on December 5 when
Dokpesi was already in the custody of the
EFCC.
Jacobs, who is the lead prosecution lawyer
in Dokpesi’s trial, said it would be
dangerous to admit Dokpesi to bail
because, going by the charges, he risked a
jail term of seven years upon conviction
and, as such, may decide to flee the country
if allowed to go on bail.
Earlier, while arguing the bail application,
Dokpesi’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN),
stated that the offences for which his client
was standing trial were bailable because
they are not capital offences.
He said Dokpesi had not in any way
contributed to any act of insurgency and
that he would not jump bail when granted.
Ozekhome also told the court that his client
was billed to travel abroad for a medical
check-up when he got a telephone call
inviting him orally to the EFCC and that
without any hesitation, Dokpesi honoured
the invitation as a law abiding citizen.
He also told the court that Dokpesi’s son’s
wedding had been fixed for 17 and 19 of
this month, he has invited prominent
Nigerians and, as such, he would be around
at all times to stand trial.
Ozekhome also submitted that Section 36 of
the 1999 Constitution presumes his client
innocent until the contrary has been proved
by the prosecution.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole, after listening to
both lawyers, said he needed time to
consider their arguments and processes
filed.
He adjourned till December 14 for ruling and
ordered that Dokpesi be remanded in the
custody of the EFCC.
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http://thenationonlineng.net/govt-investigating-dokpesi-for-another-n8b-fraud-allegation/ |
this Dokpesi sef tire person