Court Refuses Dokpesi Bail
THE Federal High Court, Abuja Division, has refused the bail application of former Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who is being held over his alleged complicity in money laundering involving N2.1 billion meant for arms purchase.
Instead, the court ordered Dokpesi’s counsel to put the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on notice to avail them the opportunity to appear before it on December 14, this year to show cause why Dokpesi, who has been in its custody for about a week, should not be granted conditional or unconditional bail.
Ruling on an exparte bail application argued by Dokpesi’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Justice Gabriel Kolawole declined the relief sought.
In the exparte application filed on December 3, Ozekhome had prayed the court for an order to compel EFCC to produce Dokpesi who is presently in its custody.
He also prayed the court for an order admitting Dokpesi to bail on self-recognisance or liberal terms, pending his formal arraignment by the anti-graft agency.
The grounds of the exparte motion, among others, was that Dokpesi had been detained for over 48 hours without filing any criminal charge against him as required by law.
Dokpesi was also said to have on December 1, this year reported at the headquarters of the EFCC, following a telephone call to that effect, but was subsequently detained after several hours of unprepared interrogation.
Other grounds for the motion is that the offences against Dokpesi are ordinarily bailable, adding also that Dokpesi has no reason to jump bail, escape justice or interfere with witnesses.
Ozekhome said Dokpesi has no criminal antecedent or record and that because of his status in society, he should be granted bail on self-recognisance or in the most liberal terms.
Dokpesi was on December 1 arrested and detained in connection with money disbursed from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
When contacted, Ozekhome said: “I do not regard this as an arrest. If you are invited by the EFCC, that is not the same thing as an arrest.
“We got this information through a mere phone call. There is no warrant of arrest and as a well-respected obedient nationalist, Dokpesi decided to go and answer the invitation.”
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11 Comments
It will be nice for this Chief Dkpesi and other big men to spend Xmas in jail; maybe in future they will remove their eye from money that belongs to all Nigerian.
“‘When contacted, Ozekhome said: “I do not regard this as an arrest. If you are invited by the EFCC, that is not the same thing as an arrest.
“We got this information through a mere phone call. There is no warrant of arrest and as a well-respected obedient nationalist, Dokpesi decided to go and answer the invitation.”
This quest for a share of the arms loot is getting ridiculous. Ozekhome must start a campaign that the security agencies must obtain a warrant of arrest before suspected criminals are arrested. He may even lobby the biafrans to include it in their protest charter.
At least he will be seen as working for his bread.
THERE IS NO ACTION OF ANY GOVERNMENT THAT WILL NOT BE CRITICISED, BUT IN MY OPINION I THINK ANYBODY WHO GO AGAINST THE LAW NO MATTER HOW HIGHLY PLACED OR WHICH ETHNIC,RELIGION OR POLITICAL PARTY HE OR SHE MAY BELONG SHOULD FACE THE CONSEQUENCE OF HIS OR HER ACTIONS.IT’S HERE IN NIGERIA THAT WE LOOK AT WHO IS ARRESTING WHO AND START PICKING FAULTS.
This new Nigeria where we see DSS and EFCC buzzing around like mosquitoes is annoying. A leader who chooses to harass citizens who were against him in an election is immature. Such can never become a statesman.
They must allow these guys bail and prosecute them neatly if there is truly a case against them. I hope EFCC is listening. Don’t show the world we are still a lawless nation (although we are). Enough of these zeal without knowledge.
Ozekhome you misfire. Dokpesi is a crook and criminal. Remember Dokpesi and Musa Ya”radua case, when Dokpesi was the managing director of African Shipping Line, where he siphoned or stole million of Dollars of that Shipping line and ran away with the money to USA. Your Client is a well known criminal, let him go to jail.
“Ozekhome said Dokpesi has no criminal antecedent or record and that because of his status in society, he should be granted bail…” – and that is the MISTAKE our blind lawyers always make. So, because he has never stolen or killed before, he can never be a potential thief or a potential murder? The man has agreed to his illegal contract award despite his “status in the society”. How long do we want to be continuously deceiving ourselves in this society? Our HORROR-RABLES!!!
You are right. What status in society? Nigeria is an unsolvable riddle.
You are right, let Nigeria have good judiciary that is not corrupt in place. By the time some of these so called big men with self recognition are thrown in prison, then no one will have the gut to steal public fund again.
So Mr. GraduatesNG, you are comfortable with what has been going on in your society before PHD Jonathan was voted out? Are you really a graduate or you are just trying to claim you are?
When a SAN becomes a failed charge and bail lawyer you know that his SAN is worthless. His argument to support the bail are simply too weak. Self-recognition? Not for a criminal offence me think
Beeni!
We will review and take appropriate action.