Dokpesi Still in Prison; Shielded to Avoid Beating by Prisoners

A source at the notorious Kuje Prison in Abuja has revealed to SR that detained owner of Raypower and AIT, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, was being held in an office at the prison in order to avoid the possibility of him being assaulted by hardened criminals at the facility.

As at the time of reporting, Dokpesi is still being held at Kuje Prison as he has not been able to meet his his bail conditions.

In insider at the prison said: “Chief Dokpesi arrived at Kuje Prison at 4.55 p.m. yesterday and was taken straight to the office of the officer in charge.”

Justice Gabriel Kolawole had granted Dokpesi bail, but ordered him remanded in prison until he meets the bail conditions. The conditions include two sureties at N200 million each. 

The source told SR that some inmates at the prison were looking forward to having him in their midst when they learned that Dokpesi would be spending some time at the prison.

“Upon sighting Chief Dokpesi, most of the inmates became anxious to see him,” said the source. He added: “But we decided to keep him in the office of the officer-in-charge to prevent the prisoners possibly hurting him. That’s why we are shielding him from [the inmates].”

The AIT/Raypower proprietor is standing trial on a six-count charge of money laundering and other fraud-related crimes. Prosecutors say he got N2.1bn from ex-NSA, Sambo Dasuki, in a controversial contract to promote former President Goodluck Jonathan. The contract is said to be a "smokescreen".

The source disclosed that Dokpesi seemed downcast when he was brought into the prison.