9th December, 2015
Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Media mogul and founder of DAAR Communications, owner of popular Africa Independent Television and Raypower radio stations was on Wednesday ordered to be remanded in the custody of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after he was arraigned before a Federal High Court, Abuja, on six-count charge of money laundering and fraudulent dealings by EFCC.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole will however rule on the bail application filed by his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome on Thursday.
Dokpesi who was arraigned alongside his company, DAAR Investment Holdings Limited was accused by the Federal government, through Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the prosecution counsel of receiving the sum of N2.1bn from the office of the National Security Adviser (Dasuki Sambo) 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 Act and the EFCC Act.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Kolawole has fixed the trial of the media mogul for February 17, 18 and March 2 and 3.
Dokpesi was detained for some days after he was invited as part of the investigations of $2.1 billion arms procurement funds by the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, by the EFCC on 1 December.
The media mogul agreed that he received the sum of N2.1 billion from the office of the NSA for the media services provided by his office to the then ruling PDP in the run up to the 2015 general elections by his media outfit.
The arraignment of Dokpesi may indicate the beginning of trial of those who have been quizzed by the EFCC over their involvement in the alleged looting of the $2.1 billion weapon procurement fund.
Those who will be arraigned in court in the next few days include Dasuki himself, former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa and his son, Sagir; former Finance Director in the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu and Aminu Baba Kusa.
Also to be tried are companies allegedly used by the accused to receive huge sums from the office of the National Security Adviser without any clear and specified reasons.
The companies include Acacia Holdings Limited, Reliance Referral Hospital Limited and Dalhatu Investments Limited.
Reports indicated that Dasuki, Shuaibu Salisu, Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited , Reliance Referral Hospital Limited, Bashir Yuguda, Dalhatu Investment Ltd, Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Bafarawa will be arraigned on charges bordering on money laundering, diversion of public funds and breach of public trust among others.