Chief Raymond Dokpesi
The Federal High Court, Abuja, has heard how Chief Raymond Dokpesi and his company got N2.1 billion from the Office of the NSA without executing any contract. A former Director, Administration and Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Shuaibu Salisu, gave graphic details of the alleged fraud on Tuesday.
Dokpesi was re-arraigned before Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja, on February 17, 2016 over allegations of money laundering and breach of public trust.
He was initially arraigned on December 9, 2015 before Justice Gabriel Kolawole on a 6-count charge bordering on money laundering, breach of public trust and procurement fraud. At the resumed sitting, the prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) led the second prosecution witness Shuaibu Salisu, an official of National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Salisu said that between 2010 and 2015, he was posted to the office of the NSA as Principal Staff Officer, Presidential Air fleet Account, from where he was made Director, Administration and Finance, ONSA.
He said his schedule of duty includes administration, finance duties which include preparation of budget, salary payment, liaising with the Accountant General office, Ministry of Finance, general payment in the office and any other payment the NSA directed me to make.
Salisu admitted knowing the defendant sometime in mid- January 2015, “when the then former NSA, Col Sabo Dasuki, gave me the phone number of Mr. Dokpesi, that I should call him and he would give me an account number where I will pay in N500 million’’.
“When I called him, that this is what the NSA had directed me to do, Dokpesi said he would send his PA, I can’t remember her name, she is a woman to that effect.
“He sent the PA to my office, and I noticed it was a personal account details bearing the name, Raymond Dokpesi.
“I then called Dokpesi and told him that the CBN will not pay in money to a personal account, it has to be an account with a company name, he now promised to reverse back to me, and the PA left.’’
The following day, the PA came back with a First Bank details of Daar Communications Ltd, from where I collected it and made the payment mandate for the NSA signature as directed by him,” he said.
When asked the purpose for the money, Salisu said the NSA did not give him any, “so I have to develop reason to enable the CBN make the payment.
“I developed the reason “media campaign” the NSA did not give me reason for the payment” Salisu insisted.
After preparing the mandate, “I took it to the NSA for signature, he was satisfied and he signed it and I signed my own part and took it to the CBN”.
“There was no contract between ONSA and Dokpesi’s company.
“Sometimes, 1st of February, the NSA called me to pay the sum of N500million into Daar Communications Ltd account, I already have the account and I paid.
“After preparing the payment mandate, I took it to the NSA for his signature as usual, from where I now take it to the CBN for payment.
“In the same February, I was called by the NSA to make additional payment of N620 million, which I did, following the normal process.
“Again, in March 2015, the NSA called me and said we are making additional N500million into the account of Daar Communications and Holdings Ltd.
“I prepared the mandate, took it to the NSA who approved and put his signature. I took the mandate to the CBN for payment.
“I counter signed those four payment mandates in my capacity as Director, Administration and Finance, ONSA.
“The total amount was N2.1billion and I developed the “reason” because for the CBN to make any payment, there must be a “reason” for it. The NSA did not give me any reason.
On whether there was a contract, Salisu said to the best of his knowledge, there was no contract between Dokpesi, Daar Communications Ltd and ONSA because he was the one in charge of signing contracts on behalf of the NSA.
He further said on purchase of security equipment involving military hardwares, “it was the first time the ONSA was involved because when I assumed duty, General Aliyu Guday was not into purchase of military equipment and hardware.
“The process of purchasing security equipment to the best of my knowledge started during the tenure of Azaazi and continued during Dasuki.
When asked whether there was media budget “As far as I am concerned, this was the first time we made payment for media campaign from the ONSA, there was no budget for media campaign.
During cross examination by the defence counsel, Wole Olanipekun, Salisu admitted not making any reference to the 1st and 2nd defendant’s names from pages 83 to 104, in his witness statement.
He also admitted that ONSA under the BPP Act, “is not a procuring entity”. NAN
