News
FG Charges Dokpesi For Money Laundering
Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja (right), welcoming the Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Andrew Ayodele, during a courtesy visit to the state, yesterday.
Photo: Ibioye Diama
The Federal Government, yesterday, slammed a six-count money laundering charge against former Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi over his alleged complicity in the $2billion arms deal fraud.
Dokpesi who was recently arrested and later granted administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was alleged to have received over N10billion from the office of the erstwhile National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd.
He was charged alongside his company, Daar Holding and Investment Limited, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/380/2015.
FG specifically alleged that he acted in breach of extant provisions of the Money Laundering Act, the EFCC Act and the Public Procurement Act, for receiving huge sums of money from the office of the NSA, for unsubstantiated purpose.
Meanwhile, though the charge is yet to be assigned to any Judge for trial, however, Dokpesi had since approached Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the high court, praying for protection of his fundamental rights which he said was being threatened by the anti-graft agency.
In an ex-parte application he filed through his lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozehkome, SAN, Dokpesi, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms, pending his formal arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Instead of granting the motion, Justice Kolawole, in a chamber ruling last week Friday, ordered Dokpesi’s lawyer to go and put the federal government on notice, even as ýhe adjourned the matter till December 14.
The court also directed EFCC to produce Dokpesi before it on that day.
ýHowever, few hours after the order was made, EFCC granted administrative bail to Dokpesi.
In his application dated December 3, Dokpesi told the court that he was detained for more than 48 hours without the EFCC entering any charge against him.
Ozehkome told the court that his client was on December 1, summoned via the telephone to report to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
He said that Dokpesi has since then remained in custody on the anti-graft agency, adding that he was grilled for so many hours despite the fact that he did not have fore knowledge of why he was wanted by the EFCC.
Besides, Ozehkome, SAN, contended that the offences leveled against Dokpesi by the agency were such that can ordinarily attract bail, adding that his client has no reason or any likelihood to jump bail, escape justice or interfere with witnesses.
He told the court that Dokpesi has no criminal antecedent or record, even as he urged the court to consider the status of his client in the society and release him on self recognizance or in the most liberal terms.
It will be recalled that Chief Dokpesi was on December 1, arrested and detained in connection with money disbursed from the office of the former NSA under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
The EFCC had maintained that Dokpesi has questions to answer with regards to huge sums of money it said was paid to him while Dasuki held sway as the NSA.
Nevertheless, Dokpesi was reported to have claimed that the payments were for media coverage his media outfits rendered to former President Jonathan prior to the 2015 general elections.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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