Tobias Sylvester
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to unfreeze the N2.1 billion bank account of the founder of Daar Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi.
Justice John Tsoho gave the order on Tuesday while delivering judgment in an application filed and argued by Kanu Agabi SAN on behalf of Dokpesi.
The Judge said that the federal government has no basis to put a post no debit order on the account in view of the subsisting and valid order of the Court of Appeal.
Justice Tsoho ordered the account domiciled at the First Bank be immediately unfrozen since the criminal charges which precipitated the restriction on the account had been dismissed and Dokpesi discharged and acquitted by the Court of Appeal.
On the claim of EFCC that it has gone on appeal to the Supreme Court, Justice Tsoho held that the notice of appeal filed at the apex court cannot in law stay the execution of the subsisting judgment adding that the anti graft agency ought to have obtained a stay of execution of the judgment.
The judge also ordered that all documents seized from Dokpesi or voluntarily surrendered to the Federal Government be immediately returned to him.
KanyiDaily recalls that Raymond Dokpesi was also discharged and acquitted of corruption allegations by the court of appeal in Abuja four months ago.
