The Federal High Court in Abuja, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to unfreeze the bank account of the Founder of Daar Communications Plc, Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi.
The Directorate of State Service DSS, was also ordered to release his travelling documents.
Justice Tsoho held that, since the Court of Appeal delivered the judgment that invalidated the criminal charges against Dokpesi, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, had not applied for stay of execution of the judgment.
Hence Dokpesi can now breathe a sigh of relief, as the federal High court, Abuja gave a ruling in his favour on Tuesday.
In an application filled by Dokpesi’s counsel, Kanu Agabi on the 6th of April and filed on the 16th june, Agabi had while arguing the application, prayed the court to issue an order to unfreeze Dokpesi’s bank account, which was frozen on the strength of the charges against him.
The senior lawyer had submitted that the criminal charges in respect of N2.1billon brought against Dokpesi by EFFCC, had since been voided and quashed by the judgment of the Court of Appeal Abuja division, upholding Dokpesi’s no case submission.
Also Read: Dokpsei Vs EFCC: Court to rule on Dokpesi’s request to unfreeze account
The EFCC counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe had also argued that the anti-graft agency has already filed notice of appeal and urged the court not to grant Dokpesi’s demand.
Delivering his ruling, Justice John Tsoho, held that since the Court of Appeal delivered the judgment that invalidated the criminal charges against Dokpesi, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC had not applied for stay of execution of the judgment
The court also aligned with the submission that the matter is against the federal government of Nigeria and so all the other respondents are bodies under the government.
The court therefore ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to unfreeze Dokpesi’s account and the DSS to also release all documents in their possession including his travelling documents.
Dokpesi was arraigned alongside Daar investment and holdings Ltd.
They were alleged to have received the sum of N2.1billion from the office of the National Security Adviser between October 2014 and March 2015, which was said to have been used for the People’s Democratic Party Campaign, an allegation dismissed by the court of appeal.
Edited: Tunde Orebiyi
