Raymond Dokpesi Dragged Deeper into Dasuki's $2bn Shady Arms Deal...See Details

Posted by Lolade on Wed 09th Dec, 2015 - tori.ng

The investigations into the shady $2bilion arms and ammunition procurement has entered another phase as the EFCC has retrieved sufficient information to arraign suspects in court.

Raymond Dokpesi (L), Sambo Dasuki (R)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, December 8, filed money laundering charges, among others, against businessman Dr. Raymond Dokpesi.

Also charged before the Federal High Court are: Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda and former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA), Shaibu Salisu.

The detained suspects were yesterday served copies of the charges. Some of the suspects were meeting last night with their counsel, an indication that they might be arraigned today or before the weekend.

In the suit, which is yet to be assigned to a judge, Dokpesi is slammed with six counts, according to court sources.

The AIT/Ray Power chairman admitted collecting N2.1billion from the office of the NSA. The money, he said, was for media services.

Dokpesi is charged along with his company – Daar Holdings and Investment Limited. They are accused of violating the Money Laundering Act, the EFCC Act and the Public Procurement Act.

Dasuki, who is charged along with the others, is already standing trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja for alleged illegal possession of firearms and money laundering.

Strong indications emerged yesterday that the accounts of most of the suspects had been frozen.

According to an EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, filing the charges “is a demonstration of our commitment to the rule of law”. He said the EFCC would not want to detain all the suspects for long “because they are overstretching our facilities”.

“Their fate will now be determined by the court. It is the court that will decide whether they should be granted bail or be remanded in prison custody,” the source added.

The investigation of the $2.1 billion arms deals will continue in spite of filing of charges, it was learnt.

Although the details of the charges were not released last night, it was learnt that the EFCC chose to beat most of the suspects to their game.

“These suspects were already plotting to go to a High Court to quash the detention warrant issued by a Chief Magistrate’s Court against them.

“We have to move faster to checkmate plans to stop their trial.”