AIT Owner Dokpesi Arraigned At Abuja Federal High Court For Money Laundering, Pleads Not Guilty

Chief Raymond Dokpesi has been formally arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja, pleads not guilty to a 6 count charge of alleged fraudulent N2.1b Presidential Media Initiative Contract which includes money laundering.

Dokpesi, the Chairman of DAAR Communications, owners of African Independent Television, AIT and Raypower, was earlier invited and arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, over money disbursed by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Shortly after he took his plea, Justice Gabriel Kolawole ordered that he be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of his bail application by 12:30pm on Thursday.

The prosecution led by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN),? accused the defendants of receiving, N2.1bn from the office of the National Security Adviser between October 2014 and March 19, 2015 for the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential media campaign in breach of provisions of the Public Procurement Act, Money laundering Act and the EFCC Act.

Justice Kolawole has fixed trial for February 17, 18 and March 2 and 3.