Arms scandal: No $2.1bn is missing, FG’s lying, says Dokpesi

Former Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi has described the alleged missing $2.1bn arms fund as a hoax, saying the charges were meant to decimate the leadership and membership of the opposition party.

Dokpesi said this Abuja when members of the PDP Youth Vanguard named him as the group’s patron.

He said, "Our party is indeed experiencing a massive persecution, political repression and vendetta of the kind never before seen on our shores, targeted at the leadership, membership and indeed sympathisers of the PDP by the All Progressives Congress government of the day.

"I speak with regard to several matters before the law courts of our country concerning the PDP members and especially my humble self on charges filed against us by the Federal Government.

I must hasten to assure you that there is nothing like the much-flaunted $2.1b arms gate. The competent courts of our land would sooner or later prove this coinage, aimed at decimating the leadership and membership of our great party, to be nothing but a hoax."

Dokpesi told the youths group that the PDP had not and would not die.

The EFCC had arrested Dokpesi following an investigation into the interim report of a presidential committee on the procurement of arms and equipment for the Armed Forces and the defence sector from 2007 to date.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has preferred six counts of money laundering and procurement-related charges involving N2.1bn against him.

Dokpesi had, however, in a statement, said the money he collected from the NSA’s office was meant for publicity and media campaigns during the 2015 general elections, describing it as a contractual transaction.

The prosecution said Dokpesi and his company had, by the deal, violated the provisions of the EFCC Act, Public Procurement Act and Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

He was granted bail in the sum of N400m on December 14.