Founder of Daar Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has told the court that he did not launder N2.1 billion.
The media mogul and his company distanced themselves from the N2.1 billion money-laundering charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
They told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday that it was the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), that paid the amount to them in 2015.
Justice John Tsoho, after hearing their side of the matter, fixed November 22 to deliver ruling on the no-case submissions made by them.
The court heard that Dokpesi, AIT and Raypower FM received the sum of N2.1bn from the NSA office, under the watch of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) as payment for a “purported contract on presidential media initiative.”
The EFCC also alleged that Dokpesi and his firm received the sum of N2.1bn from ONSA to prosecute the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2015 presidential media campaign.
The prosecution further told the court that the payment was in breach of the provisions of the Procurement Act, Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and the EFCC (Establishment) Act.
In moving their no-case submission, however, lawyer to Dokpesi and his firm, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that it was the former NSA who laundered the money.
At a resumed hearing on Friday, Agabi demanded that the court discharge Dokpesi and his company because the prosecutor failed woefully to prove any element of the offence levelled against the defendants.
According to the lead council, out of the seven-counts charge, counts 1, 2, 3 and 4, bordered on money laundering. He argued that the defendants committed no offence because the proceeds are legitimate.
“I submit that money in the account of National Security Adviser, and Central Bank of Nigeria are not the proceeds of crime and when it is spent for any purpose whatsoever, the NSA is not trying to launder it.
“In what manner did he obtain the money, assuming without conversing that it was a proceed of crime, the essential ingredients of money laundering offence have not been established.
“A payment was made by Colonel Dasuki and his name was specifically mentioned, which implies that he was the person laundering the account.
“The accused are not the launderers but Dasuki. If the money launderer is Colonel Dasuki, are we going to condemn behind him, and if so, why was he not being charged?” Agabi queried.
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