Absence of prosecution lawyer stalls Dokpesi’s trial; case adjourned till October 19

The trial of broadcaster, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, and his firm, the Daar Holding and Investment Limited, was again stalled before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday due to the absence of the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
This is the second consecutive time the trial would be stalled due to Jacobs’ absence from court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on February 17, 2016 arraigned Dokpesi and his firm on a six-count charge bordering on a procurement fraud and breach of public trust involving N2.1bn.
Dokpesi and the firm were said to have received the N2.1bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) between October 2014 and March 2015, for the funding of the presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
The act was said to be a breach of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
The court presided over by Justice John Tsoho had on March 2 adjourned till April 28 for commencement of trial.
On April 28, Dokpesi was present in court with his lawyers but the prosecution team was absent.
The trial was then adjourned till Wednesday (June 15).
But at the resumed hearing on Wednesday, after Dokpesi’s lawyer, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), announced his appearance and those of other lawyers appearing with him, Justice Tsoho asked him if he was aware of a letter written by the prosecution, requesting for an adjournment.
Adedipe said the lead defence counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), had told him about it.
The lawyer then asked for a date in late October or early November to enable the parties to settle down after the court’s forthcoming vacation and the International Bar Association conference would have been over.
He added that Dokpesi recently returned from a medical trip abroad and would be returning in October.
Justice Tsoho adjourned till October 19 for commencement of trial.