New evidence stalls Dokpesi's trial

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed April 28 for the commencement of the trial of businessman and founder of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, on six counts of money laundering and procurement-related fraud.

The trial was stalled on Wednesday following a fresh proof of evidence newly filed and served on the defence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The EFCC had on February 17 re-arraigned Dokpesi and his company, Daar Investment and Holdings Limited, before Justice James Tsoho on six counts relating to the N2.1bn which Dokpesi and his firm allegedly collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser between October 2014 and March 2015.

The money was said to be part of the funds allegedly diverted by the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), to fund the presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party.

When the case was called on Wednesday, the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that he was ready for trial and that his first prosecution witness was in court.

But the lead defence counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), opposed the call for the commencement of trial, saying he had just been served with the prosecution's additional proof of evidence.

He said the bundle of documents was not served on him on time and that it was not properly filed before the court because the prosecution did not first obtain the court's permission to file it.

Both sides later agreed to make an arrangement for the defence to receive more legible copies of the documents as requested.

Justice Tsoho then adjourned till April 28. Punch