Chief Raymond Dokpesi, media mogul and one of those fingered in the arms scandal currently rocking the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, on Monday secured bail at N200 million from the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
Dokpesi and his Daar Communications Plc are being tried for allegedly receiving the sum of N2.1 billion from the office of the former NSA, but he has argued that he only got the money to carry out media strategy for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The court granted Dokpesi the sum of N200 million and two sureties in like sum.
In a ruling on Monday afternoon, trial Justice Gabriel Kolawole ordered Dokpesi who is facing a six-count criminal charge, to produce two sureties who must deposit N200 million each.
According to the court, one of the sureties must be a public servant, either serving or retired, not below the level of a Director.
The second surety, the court said, may be an entrepreneur who must submit three years tax clearance and either of the two sureties must tender title deeds of a landed property in any part of Nigeria, the value of which must not be below N200milion.
The sureties must also submit an affidavit of means and two recent passport photographs to the Deputy Chief Registrar, DCR, Administration, of the high court.
Dokpesi is also to present his international passport and if the international passport is already in custody of the EFCC, it should be delivered to the DCR of the Federal High Court in charge of Litigation.
While the bail condition is being perfected, Justice Kolawole ordered that Dokpesi should be remanded in prison custody.
Count one of the charges against him read: “That you Col Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (RTD) whilst being the national security adviser and Shuaibu Salisu whilst being director of finance and administration in the office of the national security adviser and Hon Waripamowei Dudafa (now at a large) whilst being senior special assistant, domestic affairs to the president on or about 27th November, 2014 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court entrusted with dominion over certain properties, to wit: The sum of N10bn being part of funds in the account of the national security adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the equivalent of which sum you received from the CBN in foreign currencies to wit: $47, 000, 000 and 5.6 million euros, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you claimed to have distributed same to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary election delegates and yoù thereby committed an offence punishable under section 315 of the penal code Act Cap 532, Vol 4, LFN 2004.”
The charge against him was signed by its Deputy Director, Legal and Prosecution, Mr. Aliyu Yusuf.
The funds were allegedly transferred from an account the office of NSA operated with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to a FirstBank of Nigeria Plc account owned by DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited.
The transaction, the EFCC said, 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.
