Armsgate: Efcc Re-arraigns Dokpesi Before Justice Tsoho

Source: thewillnigeria.com

SAN FRANCISCO, February 17, (THEWILL) – Erstwhile chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi has been re-arraigned before the Justice James Tsoho-led Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday re-arraigned Dokpesi on a six-count charge of money laundering and other charges relating to procurement fraud, to which he pleaded “absolutely, absolutely and absolutely not guilty”.

Dokpesi was first arraigned before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the same court in December 2015. But the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta withdrew the case from Justice Kolawole and drafted Justice James Tsoho to handle the matter.

On Wednesday, he pleaded not-guilty to a six-count charge of criminal breach of public procurement law to the tune of N2.1bn – the same charges filed against him last December.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs SAN had told the court that there was a need for Dokpesi to take a fresh plea, which the court agreed to.

The defence counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, however urged the court to allow Dokpesi maintain the bail earlier granted him by Justice Kolawole on December 14, given that the accused person had been of good behaviour since the bail was granted.

Following Olanipekun's appeal, Justice Tsoho ruled that the bail granted Dokpesi earlier be maintained and adjourned the case until March 2 and 3 for commencement of trial.