Court slams Dokpesi difficult bail condition, remands him in kuje prison

By OKOSUN OKHUELEIGBE

The plan by Raymond Dokpesi to have a smooth ride out of court on Monday met a brick wall as Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, granted former  Chairman of DAAR
Communication Plc, stringent bail in the sum of N200m.

Justice Kolawole also ordered the accused person to submit his international passport or any other international document that could enable him travel out of the country and that he should be remanded in Kuje prisons pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.

Dokpesi, who was arraigned alongside his company, DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited on Wednesday, 9 December 2015, had pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge bordering on alleged procurement fraud and breach of public trust preferred against him by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

Moving his application for bail at the last sitting, the defence counsel, Mike Ozekhome, (SAN) had pleaded with the court to grant the accused person bail on self-recognition.

According to him, “The applicant has not contributed to the insurgency by his act and the only reason he is held in custody is because of mere speculation of future investigation, which this honourable court cannot act on.

“The alleged offence is bailable. My Lord, the accused will not jump bail, as he has families and dependants.”

However, while opposing the bail application, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, (SAN) had said that “The nature of the offence is corruption and a serious one. “The accused initially denied having any transaction with the office of the National Security Adviser until he was confronted with the evidence. Therefore, such person cannot be granted bail, as this is coming when the country is trying to change its corruption rating in the international community.”

In his ruling at the resumed hearing today, Justice Kolawole granted the accused person bail in the sum of N200m, with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a public servant, either serving or retired, and not below the rank of Director, while the second surety must be an entrepreneur who must submit evidence of tax payment in the last three years.

In addition, “The sureties must tender title deeds of landed properties in any part of Nigeria, the value of which must not be below N200milion,” the Judge added.

The case was adjourned to February 17, 2016 for the commencement of trial.