Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications PLC, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi has said that he is only trying to use his professionalism in the media world to see that the image of Nigeria is restored and upheld.
The media magnate mentioned this while giving his evidence in chief, led by his counsel Mike Ozekhome SAN in the suit bordering on alleged procurement fraud and breach of public trust to the tune of N2.1 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 17, 2016 re-arraigned Dokpesi, before Justice John Tsoho, of the Federal High Court Abuja, on a six-count charge.
Dokpesi, who was arraigned alongside his firm DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited, is alleged to have received N2.1billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, between October 2014 and March 2015, which was used for the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential media campaign.
Dokpesi opened his defense in the matter on the 21st of January, 2020. On the second day of his testimony, he told the court that services were rendered to the Office of the National Security Adviser.
He said that due to the difficulties that Nigeria encountered externally, including the citizens, it was an imperative to have in place a Presidential media initiative which amongst several reasons was necessary to help curb insurgency in the country and this was why he was invited to the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The media magnet said that the initiative which was also adopted by the administration of General Sani Abacha was also accepted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo who personally signed and endorsed the initiative as being beneficial to Nigeria.
Dokpesi also mentioned that the initiative was adopted and accepted 8 years later by the late President Umaru Musa Yaradua, and passed on to the Minister of of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akinyuli at the time.
Dokpesi said that the content and way to go about the initiative have been submitted repeatedly since 1995.
While still giving evidence, Dokpesi said that there is an allegation by the prosecution that the statement he gave to EFCC, which includes the breakdown of the Presidential Media Initiative he presented to President Jonathan was hurriedly put up.
Dokpesi’s counsel told the court that the statement issued to the court by the EFCC as exhibit did not contain the Presidential Media Initiative mentioned by the witness.
Also Read: Fake News: Dokpesi denies plans to dump PDP for APC
The Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob SAN asked Ozekhome to resist from making the witness read out evidence in court, Ozekhome insisted that there was need because the evidence presented to the court was cold and that the witness had every right to defend himself against whatever evidence is presented to the court.
Meanwhile, Ozekhome had tendered 67 documents as evidence showing transactions between DAAR Communications PLC and its clients from the year 2014, 2015, 2016, urging the court to uphold the documents, as they are very crucial in the matter.
The court adopted the documents as exhibit N1 to N67.
Justice John Tsoho has adjourned the matter to 18 March, 2020 for further hearing
