THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday increased the charges preferred against the former chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The anti-graft agency, which re-arraigned Dokpesi on an amended seven-count charge as against the six counts he was earlier arraigned with, accused the former chairman of DAAR Communication Plc of allegedly breaching public trust and procurement fraud.
Dokpesi who is the owner of the African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower Radio, pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge, which borders on allegations of money laundering of the sum of N2.1 billion.
In the amended charge dated May 9, 2018, and signed by the Director, Legal and Prosecution department of the EFCC, Chile Okoroma, Dokpesi was alleged to have, between January 22, 2015, and March 18, 2015, directly took control of an aggregate sum of N2,120,000,000, paid into the account of DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc, from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
“Which sum you reasonably ought to have known to be a proceeding of an unlawful act of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd), the then National Security Adviser (NSA) to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (2) and (4) of the same Act”, the charge reads in part.
In count five of the charge, Dokpesi was accused to have, between October 2014 and March 2015 conducted procurement fraud by fraudulently receiving N2,1 billion into the account of DAAR Investment and Holding Company for the funding of media activities for the 2015 presidential election campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Count six of the charge reads, “That you Dr Raymond Dokpesi and DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited between October 2014 and 19 March 2015 in Abuja, conducted procurement fraud by means of fraudulent and corrupt act, to wit: receipt of payment into the account of DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc. of public funds in the sum of N2,120,000,000 from the account of the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria for the funding of media activities for the 2015 presidential election campaign for the People Democratic Party (PDP) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 58 (4) (b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (6) & (7) of the same Act.
“That you Dr. Raymond Dokpesi and Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited between October 2014 and 19 March, 2015 in Abuja, entered into a purported contract on presidential media initiative and received payment in the sum of N2,1 billion into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc. from the account of the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) with the CBN on account of the purported contract without a “Certificate of “No Objection to Contract Award” duly issued by Public Procurement Bureau and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 16 (1) (b), (4) & (5) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (6) of the same Act.
“That you Dr Raymond Dokpesi and Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited between 22 January and 19 March 2015 in Abuja, knew that an aggregate sum of N2,120,000,000 directly represented the proceeds of criminal conduct of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Shuaibu Salisu who were National Security Adviser and the Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) respectively to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the said amount, used the said property and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 17 (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004”.
Continuing in the proceedings yesterday, the 13th Prosecution witness, Ayobami Oluwarinu, an architect told the court that his two companies, Archistsnthesis and Wood Country Investment Limited was paid a total sum of N60. 1 million for the job he carried out to Dokpesi at his country home in Agenebode, Edo state and AIT’, Kbaduma Hill, Asokoro District in Abuja.
He said the money was paid into the bank accounts of his two companies, specifically for design and construction works.
Under cross-examination by counsel to Dokpesi, Kanu Agabi (SAN), the witness who said he wrote a statement at the EFCC office in Abuja on Tuesday in respect of his transaction with Dokpesi added that there was no contract agreement in his transaction with Dokpesi as they were all done in trust.
Justice Tsoho adjourned the matter till May 28, 2018, for the continuation of trial.
(TRIBUNENG)