Alleged N2.1BN FRAUD: How Dokpesi spent millions on security doors, generators – Witnesses

Two witnesses on Thursday narrated before the Federal High Court, Abuja how the founder of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, through his Daar Investment and Holdings Limited, spent millions of Naira on generators, a transformer and security doors.

The two witnesses, Peter Imoekor and Fabian Ozoemina were brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to testify against Dokpesi in respect to the N2.1 billion fraud charges the anti-graft commission instituted against him.

Dokpesi and his company are being prosecuted on six counts bordering on the sum of N2.1 billion he allegedly received in tranches from the Office of the National Security Adviser during the time of Col. Sambo Dasuki between January and March 2015.

The commission accused Dokpesi of money laundering and other charges relating to receiving the sum of N2.12 billion from ONSA and using same to prosecute Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDPs) 2015 presidential media campaign.

The witnesses claimed that they supplied generators, a transformer and security doors valued at millions of naira to Dokpesi’s houses in Lagos and Agenebode in Edo State, adding that they did same to his offices at different times.

They told the court that the transaction took place after the sum N2.1 billion was supposedly paid to the defendants by the Office of the National Security Adviser between January and March 2015.

Imoekor, who is the Administrative Manager of Mikano International Ltd, Abuja Branch, testified as the seventh prosecution witness while Ozoemina, who is the Managing Director, Gilgal Concepts Ltd, testified as the eighth witness in the matter..

They were led by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Oluwaleke Atolagbe.

According to the EFCC the payment was in breach of and punishable under provisions of the Public Procurement Act, Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and the EFCC (Establishment) Act.

Imoekor, in his testimony told the court on Thursday that he was invited by the EFCC in February 2016 “to clarify” some transactions which Mikano had with Dokpesi and Daar Communications Plc.

He then explained how between February and August 2015 Mikano supplied four units of 140KVA, two units of 200KVA and a 500KVA electric transformer to Dokpesi’s house in Agenebode (Dokpesi’s hometown) and Daar’s offices in Sokoto and Gusau, Zamfara State.

“The transaction was in respect of four units of 140KVA Basic (open type). Each costs N3.5m and they all totalled N14 million.

“Daar made payment for all. The payment was made in two tranches of N7 million each through First Bank drafts.

“On March 19, 2015, they came to exchange three of the ‘Basic’ generators with soundproof type and paid the difference of N6, 350,000 through UBA Plc.

“Then on March 30, 2015, delivery was made. We delivered them to Sokoto and Gusau, capital of Zamfara State.

“In the same March, they made a request for the purchase of two units of 200KVA basic generator and payment of N11,657,240 was made through transfer and delivery was made to his (Dokpesi’s) house in Otuake Quarters, Agenebode in Edo State.

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“In August 2015 payment for 500KVA electric transformer was made. The amount paid was in cash. It was N3,073,200. This time the receipt was issued in his name, that is, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi’s name.

“Then a memo was issued to the head office of Mikano International Limited for delivery in Agenebode Edo State. It was subsequently delivered,” he said.

Asked on whose instructions the transactions were made, he confirmed they were made by Dokpesi.

He said, “They were mostly carried out by the officials of Daar Communications.”

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