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$2.1bn arms deal: 15 people to testify against Raymond Dokpesi

15 witnesses have been listed – to testify against the Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

Dokpesi was on Wednesday re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The broadcaster is being tried on a six-count criminal charge alongside his firm, DAAR Investment and Holdings Ltd, owners of African Independent Television, AIT, and Raypower FM.

Dokpesi was alleged to have received about N2.1 billion from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to carry out the media campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last general election.

The said funds were allegedly disbursed to Dokpesi by Dasuki between October 2014 and March 19, 2015.

The funds were said to have been transferred from an account of the office of NSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria to a FirstBank of Nigeria account owned by DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited.

According to the prosecution, the transaction was in breach of section 58 (4) (b) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and punishable under section 58 (6) and 7 of the same Act, as well as under section 17 (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.

Dokpesi was initially arraigned before the high court on December 9, 2015, had his case-file transferred to another trial Judge, hence the re-arraignment.

The EFCC retrieved the case from Justice Gabriel Kolawole and transferred it to Justice John Tsoho to enter fresh plea to the charge against Dokpesi.

Justice Tsoho, after arraignment, adjourned the matter till March 2 for trial.

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