N2.1bn fraud: Dokpesi rearraigned, pleads not guilty

 

The federal government yesterday re-arraigned Chief Raymond Dokpesi and his company, DAAR Investment Company Ltd, and preferred a seven-count amended charge against him. Dokpesi and his company, DAAR Investment, are standing trial before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over the N2.1 billion received from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
The prosecution, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, told the court that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had filed an amended charge at the registry. “My lord, the case is for continuation of trial and we have our witness in court. However, it will be appropriate to inform the court that we have fi led an amended charge, which is not in the court’s record, Atolagbe,” he said.
While reacting, Dokpesi defense Counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, told the court that the whole essence of the prosecution serving them the amended charge in court on the day of trial was to push the defence to say they are not ready. “The usual thing is for the prosecution to be desperate to prosecute their case, but we are the ones anxious and desperate to defend,” Agabi argued.
However, at a resumed sitting, the prosecution, pursuant to Section 218(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, applied for the charge to be endorsed. Consequently, the charge was read to Dokpesi, who pleaded not guilty to all the seven counts charge. Justice John Tsoho thereafter adjourned till May 28, for further hearing

 

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