Zainab Ibrahim, a relationship manager with First Bank, has informed Justice John Tsoho, of an Abuja Federal High Court, how Raymond Dokpesi, the chairman of DAAR Communications and Investment Ltd received N2.1 billion from Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The bank official at the resumption of trial, while being led in evidence by Leke Atolagbe, prosecuting counsel informed the court that, as the relationship manager to the Daar Communications and Investment Ltd account with the bank, she was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for details about the account.
According to her, the EFCC had requested for the account details including the statement of account, bank opening packages and certificate of identification, which the commission was obliged with, copies of which were tendered before the court and admitted as exhibits, including transfer instructions by signatories to the account.
She informed the court that, Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi and Raymong Paul Dokpesi were signatories to the account, and instructions to signing of instructions were based on mandate of discussion.
The witness further testified that there were payments from ONSA to the tune of N500 million each on January 22, 2015, February 4, 2015 and March 19, 2015.
Also on February 9, 2015, it also got another N620 million while the initial balance in the account before the credit payment, was N620 million.
While being cross examined by Kanu Agabi SAN, counsel to the defendant, the witness stated that the bank accepted the company as a customer because its objectives were legitimate, nor did she see anything wrong with the operations of the company until she was invited by the EFCC.
The matter was however adjourned to May 24 and 25, 2017 for continuation of trial.
Dokpesi is standing trial alongside his company on a six count charge bordering on violation of the Money laundering Act,
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act as well as Public Procurement Act, on the receipt of N2.1 billion from ONSA, prior to the 2015 general elections.
