N2.1bn Arms Deal: Dokpesi Wins In Appeal Court

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the no-case submissions made by Raymond Dokpesi and his organization, Daar Investment, and Holding Company Limited over money laundering charges brought against them in the N2.1billion arms purchase deal under former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col Sambo Dasuki in 2014.

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal on Thursday upheld the two appeals by Dokpesi and his company, thereby setting aside an earlier ruling of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which rejected the no-case submissions made by the appellants.

The appellants are in court based on a seven-count charge of money laundering and breach of the Procurement Act brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It will be recalled that Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a ruling on November 24, 2018 rejected the no-case submission by Dokpesi and DAAR and ordered them to enter their defence.

The ruling was however appealed.

On Thursday, while reading the judgments of the Court of Appeal, 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.

The appellate court thereafter proceeded to set aside an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has arrived in Borno State on Thursday amidst the circumstances surrounding a missing Nigeria Air Force (NAF) fighter jet.

Upon arrival in Borno, Air Marshal Amao was briefed on on-going efforts to locate and recover the NAF Alpha Jet which went missing on Wednesday.

As previously reported by Naija News, the Nigerian Air Force declared one of its aircraft lost radar contact when on a mission.

The jet was involved in the anti-terror war against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province when it lost radar contact.

In a statement on Wednesday, NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said the plane was “on routine mission in support of own troops at one of the Theatres of Operation in the Northern part of Nigeria”.

“Efforts are currently ongoing to locate its whereabouts.”

He however did not state how many people were on board.