EFCC re-arraign former AIT Chairman over N2.1B arms deal

ben adhoc

February 17, 2016 2:58 PM

At the resumed hearing of the case, Counsel to EFCC Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that the case was originally slated for trial before it was transferred.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday re-arraigned former Chairman of DAAR Communications Limited, Raymond Dokpesi, before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja over alleged N2.1 billion contract scam.

Dokpesi's re-arraignment followed the transfer of his case file from Justice Gabriel Kolawole’s court by the Chief Judge due to congestion of cases in the court.

The EFCC had in Dec. 2015 arraigned Dokpesi on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering and fraud.

He had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At the resumed hearing of the case, Counsel to EFCC Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that the case was originally slated for trial before it was transferred.

Jacobs argued that the new development now necessitated that the charge be read to Dopkesi who must now take his plea.

He urged the court to fix March 2 and March 3 as trial dates to enable him assemble his witnesses.

But Dokpesi’s Counsel, Mr Wole Olanipekun, SAN, urged the court to allow the bail conditions earlier granted his client by Justice Gabriel Kolawole to subsist.

He argued that his client had not breached any of the bail conditions.

Jacobs, however, did not opposed the oral application for the continuation of Dokpesi`s bail.

He said that, "our interest is to see that the trial is conducted as speedily as possible”.

Justice Tsoho agreed with Olanipekun's oral bail application and adjourned the case to March 2 and March 3 for hearing.

ben adhoc