Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday, questioned founder of Daar Communications Plc, owner of AIT/Ray Power, Raymond Dokpesi for his alleged role in the disbursement of $2.1 billion arms deal during the Jonathan administration.
This is even as the Department of State
Services (DSS) re-arrested former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col.
Sambo Dasuki (retd), over the weapons’ deal. Dokpesi’s arrest was
confirmed by a source in the EFCC who declined to be named.
Dokpesi, who allegedly played a prominent
role in the failed re-election bid of former President Goodluck
Jonathan, reported at EFCC’s headquarters for questioning yesterday
afternoon.
According to the source, Dokpesi
allegedly played a key role in the purchase of arms for the Army in the
fight against insurgency. It was gathered that N2.1 billion was
reportedly paid into his account. Dokpesi was, until recently, chairman
of DAAR Communications.
A presidential committee was set up by
President Muhammadu Buhari soon after he assumed office to investigate
the purchase of arms by the former president.
In its interim report, the committee
found extra-budgetary spending by the Jonathan administration to the
tune of N643.8 billion and an additional $2.2 billion as the foreign
currency component.
Dasuki was indicted in the interim report and has been having a running battle with the DSS.
On Monday, the anti-graft agency arrested a former minster of state for Finance, Bashir Yuguda over alleged complicity the arms’ deal.
Meanwhile, after three weeks of siege to
his Asokoro, Abuja residence, DSS finally moved against Dasuki. He was
taken to their headquarters at Aso Drive, Asokoro, Abuja, where he is
expected to be interrogated on the alleged conjured multi-billion naira
arms contract he awarded. Investigation also indicated that more DSS
operatives have stormed Dasuki’s residence, perhaps, to carry out more
searches for documents and other evidence relating to the arms’
contracts.
Prior to his arrest, a Federal High
Court, on November 3, in Abuja, ordered the release of his passport and
granted him leave to travel abroad for medicals, which was ignored.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola, while ruling on Dasuki’s application held that
in a criminal trial, every
suspect is presumed innocent and that every Nigerian has the right to
access medication anywhere of his choice.
He said the former NSA was granted bail
on September 1, on self recognition with no condition attached, adding
that the prosecution’s argument that the seizure of Dasuki’s passport as
the only condition for his bail, was irrelevant.
Justice Ademola ordered the Registrar of the court to release Dasuki’s passport to enable him travel out.
He also ordered the ex-NSA to return his
passport to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Litigation of the Court within
72 hours after his return from the medical trip.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja
fixed December 3 for the hearing of the motion filed by the Federal
Government seeking to revoke Dasuki’s bail.
At the resumed hearing of the suit,
lawyer to the Federal Government, Mr. Mohammed Diri, told the court that
a notice of appeal has been lodged at the Court of Appeal challenging
the ruling which granted Dasuki bail.
The embattled Dasuki was charged to court
with illegal possession of arms following a siege to his Abuja home and
subsequent arrest in July. The charge against him was later expanded to
include money laundering.
However, a few days after the ruling,
Dasuki’s home was surrounded by DSS operatives. The siege was an attempt
to ensure that he did not leave the country.
The DSS debunked the claim that its operatives invaded the home of the former NSA in defiance of a court order.
The security agency, in a statement, said
its officers’ action was informed by Dasuki’s refusal to honour an
invitation by the committee investigating his alleged involvement in the
arms procurement process.
Dasuki denied ever receiving any invitation letter to appear before a committee.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described EFCC’s invitation and questioning of Dokpesi as a “witch hunt.”
Reacting to the development, National
Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh said although the party was
not against the anti-graft war, allegations against Dokpesi was a ploy
by the APC to cow and silence opposition in the country.
“We insist that the crusade must be carried out within the limits of the law and not as a guise to persecute and torture opposition elements in the country.
“Our fear is that with the pronouncement of guilt, even without being giving the opportunity within his rights as a citizen to state his own side of the story, the President Buhari-led government is sidestepping the law to ensure that Dokpesi does not get justice in the court, a plot which they want to extend to other PDP leaders.
“The PDP, therefore, demands an open and public trial of all those arrested so that all issues and charges against them as well as their defence therein would also be in the public domain…”
•Dasuki back in DSS’ cell
•PDP kicks against secret trial
From Taiwo Amodu, Fred Itua, Abuja and Job Osazuwa
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