Founder of Daar Communications and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Raymond Dokpesi, has been remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following his arraignment on Wednesday.

The EFCC filed a six-count charge against Dokpesi relating to N2.1 billion he collected from former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, a retired Colonel.

He pleaded not guilty to all counts, saying the charges were false.

An attempt by the accused person’s counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to secure his bail failed as the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, said he needed time to study the bail application before reacting to it as he had just been served application papers.

After listening to both counsels, the trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole ordered that Dokpesi be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of his bail application.

Dokpesi is accused of illegally receiving the sum of N2.1billion from the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, contrary to the Public Procurement Act, Money Laundering Act and the EFCC Act.

Justice Kolawole has fixed trial for February 17, 18 and March 2 and 3.

Dokpesi appeared to contradict himself with explanations regarding what the money he received was for following his arrest on December 1, 2015 by the EFCC.

Shortly after his arrest, Daar Communications issued a statement saying the money was for “the various media exposures and campaign transactions which were dutifully carried out based essentially on contractual obligations/relationship.”

However, his family later issued another statement saying the money was not for not publicity but contract awarded by former president Goodluck Jonathan.

“We will like to make it abundantly clear that Dr. Dokpesi’s Daar Investment and Holdings Company Ltd, developed a proposal presented to the former President Goodluck Jonathan proposing a Multi Media Strategic Development Support Project to promote and project the achievements and highlight the challenges of his government whilst demystifying false information gleefully circulated by the propaganda machinery of the then opposition party,” the family said in the statement signed by Dokpesi’s son and chairman of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi Jnr.