[News] N2.1bn arms deal: Court of Appeal acquits media mogul, Raymond Dokpesi and his firm

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has discharged politician and media mogul, Raymond Dokpesi and his firm, Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited, of the charges of money laundering brought against him in the N2.1 billion Dasuki trial.

 

Col Sambo Dasuki who was the National Security Adviser (NSA) during the Jonathan administration has been accused of misappropriating N2.1 billion meant for the procurement of arms. It was alleged that Dokpesi collected some of the misappropriated funds.

 

In two unanimous judgments today Thursday, April 1, a three-man panel at the Court of Appeal upheld the two appeals by Dokpesi and Daar Investment and proceeded to set aside an earlier ruling of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which rejected the no-case submissions made by the appellants.

 

Reading the judgments on Thursday, Justice Elfreda Wiialims-Daudu held the prosecution did not make out a prima facie case against the appellants and did not also establish the elements of the offences charge to warrant the appellants to be called upon to enter defence.