A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Raymond Dokpesi, has narrated how the company got over N2.1 billion from the Office of National Security Adviser, ONSA, then headed by Sambo Dasuki.
A six-count charge of fraud and money laundering had been instituted against Dokpesi and his company, DAAR Investment Holdings Ltd, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged involvement in the misappropriation of funds meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian Military.
At the resumption of hearing on Wednesday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the witness, Zainab Kokobili, a senior staff at First Bank, told the court that the money was paid in tranches and that “High Chief Raymond Anthony Aleogho Dokpesi and Raymond Paul Dokpesi were the signatories to the account.”
The witness who was led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, from the chambers of Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, said that prior to January 22, 2015, the balance in the account was N113,585.28.
She added “N500 million was credited into the account of DAAR Communications Holdings Plc on January 22, 2015 from the ONSA.”
On other payments into the account, Kokobili stated that on February 4, 2015 another sum of N500 million was paid into the DAAR Communications account by ONSA.
She also added that N620 million and N500 million were paid into the account on February 9, 2015 and March 19, 2015 respectively from the same source.
The witness told the court that she was invited to the EFCC in Lagos where she made statements and presented some documents.
Documents, including statement of account of DAAR Communications, account opening package and certificate of identification were presented and admitted as “Exhibit B”, while bank transfer instructions in respect of the account and letter to EFCC chairman forwarding the documents were all admitted as “Exhibit C”.
Under cross-examination by Dokpesi’s counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, Kokobili told the court that First Bank accepted the payments to DAAR Communications Holdings Plc because it believed its operations are legitimate and did not see anything wrong with the company until it was invited by EFCC.
She also told the court that she had no idea why “these monies” were paid into the company’s account.
Trial Judge, John Tsoho, adjourned the case to May 24 and 25, 2017 for further hearing.
Dokpesi was first arrested on December 1, 2015 on the allegation that he had benefited from the $2.1 billion arms deal scam spearheaded by former NSA, Dasuki.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on December 14 2015.
