Alleged N2.1 Fraud: Court strikes out Dokpesi’s “no case” submission, ordered to open defence
Raymond Dokpesi
Toyin Subair
Pioneer Chairman, Daar Communications PLC, Raymond Dokpesi who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been ordered to open his defence before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja February 20, 2019.
Dokpesi alongside DAAR Investment and Holdings Ltd, owners of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM station are being prosecuted by the EFCC on a six-count charge bordering on alleged procurement, fraud and breach of public trust.
He is alleged to have received N2.1billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, between October 2014 and March 2015, during the tenure of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) as National Security Adviser for services not rendered.
The EFCC had through its 12th witness, Abubakar Aliyu Madaki, led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, stressed that the defendant “did not do any contract but was paid”.
However, rather than open its case, the media mogul had through his counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, filed a “no-case” submission arguing that his client had no case to answer in the alleged fraud.
At today’s proceeding, Justice Tsoho, after going through all the arguments and counter-arguments, dismissed his “no-case” application and ordered him to open his defence at the next adjourned date.
“I hereby strike out the application,” the judge said, stressing that Dokpesi’s claim that he had no case to answer could not be substantiated and so was a false claim.
