Founder of Daar Communication, Raymond Dokpesi, was on Wednesday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged N2.1bn fraud.
Dokpesi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart is facing a six-count bordering on corruption and violation of the public procurement law proffered against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), accused the defendants – Dokpesi and Daar Investment and Holding Company – of receiving N2.1 billion from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) between October 2014 and March 19, 2015.
The company received the sum without a “certificate of no objection” from the office of the Bureau of Public Procurement, the anti-graft agency said.
It is also alleged to have received the said sum without any competitive bidding for the contract.
Dokpesi is also alleged to have made the proposal for the said contract on behalf of his company without any comprehensive request for same by the Federal Government.
The prosecution said that the transaction was in breach of provisions of the Public Procurement Act, Money laundering Act and the EFCC Act.
Dokpesi pleaded not guilty to all six charges and Justice Gabriel Kolawole adjourned the matter till Thursday while giving the EFCC the nod to retain the accused person in its custody
Justice Kolawole also fixed February 17, 18 and March 2 and 3, to commence full hearing into the matter.
