N2.1bn arms deal: Court slates May 9 for Dokpesi to open defence

THE trial of the founder of Daar Communication Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi was on Wednesday stalled at the Federal High Court. Abuja, following the absence of the defence counsel, ‎Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).

The court was informed at the resumed trial yesterday that Agabi was absent in court because he was bereaved.

The court had, on November 21, 2018, asked Dokpesi to open his defence in the N2.1 billion money laundering charge brought against him by the federal government.

Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) informed the court yesterday that a letter was served on him that Agabi was bereaved and would not be in court.

He said Agabi’s suggestion that the matter be adjourned till April 21 was a deliberate attempt to frustrate the matter and urged the court to adjourn the matter till Thursday for the defendant to open his case.

Responding, the defence counsel, Ayo Ogundele, who stood in for Agabi said the learned SAN has been the one handling the matter and that, it will be unfair for another lawyer to take over the conduct of the matter.

After listening to the submissions of counsel, the trial Judge, Justice John Tsoho, in his ruling, held that since the reasons given by Agabi his absence in court is genuine, the court will adjourn till May 9, 2019, for the opening of his defence.

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Justice Tsoho had struck out Dokpesi’s no-case submission,  saying Dokpesi and his company  have a case to answer in the seven count charge of money laundering and procurement fraud slammed against them by the federal government.

Dopkesi, who is the owner of African Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power Radio, is being prosecuted along with his company for allegedly receiving the sum of N2.1 billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in 2015.‎

Relying on the judgment of the Supreme Court in a similar case involving a former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, Justice Tsoho ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case warranting the defendants to defend themselves.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), prosecuting Dokpesi and his company on behalf of the federal government, accused them of fraudulently receiving the sum of N2.1 billion from the ONSA between January and March 2015.

The defendants had, however, through their lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), filed their no-case submission after the prosecution called 14 witnesses, urging the court to dismiss the case on the grounds that the essential ingredients of the alleged offences were not proved.