NSA Funds: Court Orders EFCC to Produce Dokpesi

NSA Funds: Court Orders EFCC to Produce Dokpesi

05 Dec 2015

 Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc,  Chief Raymond Dokpesi

By Senator Iroegbu in  Abuja
The Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) to produce the  Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc,  Chief Raymond Dokpesi in court on December 14, 2015, to show cause why he should not be granted conditional or unconditional bail by the court.
Dokpesi has been in EFCC custody in the last one week over an alleged money laundering involving N2.1 billion, which is said to be part of the $2.1 billion funds of the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The trial judge, Justice Kolawole, while ruling in an ex parte motion argued by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) on Friday, ordered that EFCC should be put on notice and appear on December 14, with the detained former boss of DAAR Communications.
In the exparte application filed on December 3, Ozekhome had prayed the court for an order to compel EFCC to produce Dokpesi, who is presently in its custody.
He also pray the court for an order admitting Dokpesi to bail on self-recognition or liberal terms pending his formal arraignment by the anti-graft agency.
The grounds of the exparte motion, among others was that Dokpesi had been detained for more than 48 hours without filing any criminal charge against him as required by law.
Dokpesi was also said to have, on December 1, reported at the headquarters of the EFCC following a telephone call to that effect, but was subsequently detained after several hours of unprepared interrogation.
Other grounds for the motion is that the offences alleged against Dokpesi were ordinarily bailable, adding also that Dokpesi had no reason or any likelihood to jump bail, escape justice or interfere with witnesses.
Ozekhome said Dokpesi had no criminal antecedents or record and that because of his status in the society, he should be granted bail on self recognisance or in the most liberal terms.
Dokpesi was on December 1, arrested and detained in connection with money disbursed from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
When contacted, Dokpesi through his  lawyer said: “I do not regard this as an arrest. If you are invited by the EFCC that is not the same thing as an arrest.
"We got this information through a mere phone call. There is no warrant of arrest and as a well-respected obedient nationalist, Chief Dokpesi decided to go and answer the invitation."