Alleged N2.1bn Fraud: Witnesses expose what Dokpesi allegedly spent on generators, security doors

CHIDIEBELE NWACHUKWU The two prosecution witnesses in the ongoing trial of founder, African Independent Television, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Daar Investment and Holdings Limited in respect of the N2.1billion fraud charges instituted against him, yesterday testified before the Federal High Court, Abuja. The witnesses – Administrative Manager, Mikano International  Limited, Abuja Branch, Mr. Peter Imoekor and  the Managing Director, Gilgal Concepts Limited, Mr. Fabian Ozoemena, gave break down of transactions they had with the defendant. Led in evidence by the counsel to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Oluwaleke Atolagbe, they told the court how they supplied generators, a transformer and security doors valued at millions of naira, to Dokpesi’s houses in Lagos and Agenebode, Edo State, as well his offices at different times after the sum N2.1billion was allegedly paid to the defendants by the Office of the National Security Adviser between January and March 2015. The anti-graft agency is prosecuting Dokpesi and his company on a six-count bordering on the sum of N2.1billion, which they allegedly received in tranches from the Office of the National Security Adviser between January and March 2015. EFCC had accused the defendants of money laundering and other charges for allegedly receiving the sum of N2.12billion from ONSA and using same for Peoples Democratic Party’s 2015 presidential media campaign.    Imoekor also told the court that he was invited by the EFCC in February 2016 to clarify some transactions, which Mikano had with Dokpesi and Daar Communications Plc. He explained how Mikano supplied four units of 140KVA, two units of 200KVA and a 500KVA electric transformer to Dokpesi’s house in Agenebode and Daar Communication offices in Sokoto and Gusau, Zamfara State, between February and August 2015. Mikano’s staff further confirmed that the instructions for the transactions were from Dokpesi. “They were mostly carried out by the officials of Daar Communications”, Imoekor added. Under cross-examination by Dokpesi’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), the witness stated that he did not know the sources of the money paid by Dokpesi and his company for the supply of the products. He also said he did not know about the income and expenditure of Daar Communication. “There is nothing about the transactions I consider abnormal”, he stated. When also asked, he said they have been their customer for years, adding that he did not not see anything wrong in the transaction until he was invited by the EFCC. “I don’t know if it was after charges were filed that I made my statement. I only responded to the invitation by EFCC”, the witness also stated.   On his part, Ozoemena said the EFCC invited him sometime in January 2016, over the case the agency he had with High Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Daar Communications” “They asked me what the money they paid to my company was for, and I said they were for security doors”, the witness said. Under cross-examination, Ozoemena said he said he did not know the sources of the money paid by Dokpesi.   And when asked if he would describe Dokpesi whom he had been relating with for  20 years as a good man, the witness  said: “he (Dokpesi is a very good man, I would say”, Justice John Tsoho has adjourned the matter till November 17, for continuation of trial.