Court rules on Dokpesi’s bail request December 14

By Lemmy Ughegbe and Abosede Musari (Abuja)
 

• Being investigated over fresh charges of N8.4b fraud
THE detained founder of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, will have to wait till December 14, 2015 to know if the Federal High Court, Abuja Division will grant him bail.

After entertaining arguments by counsel for Dokpesi, Chief Mike Abu Ozekhome (SAN) in favour of his bail application and the arguments canvassed by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole reserved his decision for next Monday.

Dokpesi, charged alongside his business concern, DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited pleaded not guilty to all of the six counts charge bordering on money laundering and breach of Public Procurement Act.

While arguing the media chief’s bail application, Ozekhome prayed the court to consider the status of his client and release him on self-recognition or “on the most liberal term,” saying the offences against him are ordinarily bailable.

He said the accused remained a man of his standing with no reason to jump bail, submitting that he would appear on all days his trial was fixed if he was granted bail.

However, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) opposed the bail application on the ground that Dokpesi was also being investigated over alleged complicity in the diversion of other huge sums of money.

Jacobs submitted that admitting Dokpesi to bail could jeopardise on-going investigations in that regard and therefore prayed the court to refuse his bail application.

Also, Jacobs said the Federal Government was investigating a fresh allegations of N8.4billion, Dokpesi allegedly collected for airing the FIFA U17 championship which Nigeria hosted in Jan 27,2012.

Jacobs said the airing right was given to DAAR Communications by FIFA and the Federal Government was not a party to the said contract.

He urged the court to take a judicial look at the affidavit evidence of the Federal Government which indicated that no contract paper was exchanged by Dokpesi and any agent of government when the money was paid to him.