The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has discharged High Chief Raymond Dokpesi of charges bothering on violation of the nation’s procurement law after six years of prosecution.
The case is in relation to disbursement of the N2.1billion meant for arms purchase while Col Sambo Dasuki was the National Security Adviser (NSA) in 2014.
In two unanimous judgments on Thursday, a three- man panel of Court of Appeal upholds the two appeals by Dokpesi and Daar Investment and proceeded to set aside an earlier ruling of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which rejected the no-case submissions made by the appellants.
Reading the judgments on Thursday, 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.
An activist, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, has reacting to the development, described it as a landmark judgement.
In a statement signed personally by Adeyanju on Thursday, he said the acquittal of Dokpesi was long expected and that it will put an end to the alleged persecution of opposition politicians by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“I hail the landmark judgment of the Court of Appeal discharging Chief Raymond Dokpesi of the childish charges by EFCC of breaching procurement laws. This landmark judgment by the Court Appeal will close the window of persecution of perceived political opponents of the government by EFCC.
“This was the expected outcome. How can someone do business with government and suddenly become guilty for doing business yet those that directed he be payed are snapping pictures with Buhari. Funny country indeed. Kudos to the judiciary for this,” Adeyanju said
