The Chairman of Daar Communications, owners of the Raypower FM and African Independent Television, Chief Raymond Dopkesi, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being behind his detention last Friday on arrival from his medical trip to Dubai.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday after an interrogation by the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, which lasted about two hours, Dokpesi also accused the Federal Government of intimidating members of Peoples Democratic Party.
He equally accused the NIS, of attempting to impound his passport.
Recall that Dokpesi was briefly detained by the Department of State Services upon his return from Dubai on Friday.
Recall also that he is standing trial for allegedly receiving N2.1bn from for a former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki.
He told journalists: “I do not suspect foul play. I can state categorically that this is the handiwork of the Buhari-led Federal Government. There is nothing I can do. I am in court already. I am a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is on my sweat that I go for treatment.
“Buhari, who says he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, unfortunately in the history of Nigeria, has been a parasite of Nigeria. He has never created any employment (opportunities).
“I have contributed to the growth and development of this country.
“The Federal Government is on an intimidation ploy and they are after everybody in the PDP. I’m undaunted. In fact, the more they do this, the more I’m defiant and the more I’m resolute to stand for the good of the ordinary people of Nigeria.”
On the issue of his passport, he explained that on his return from medical treatment abroad, he returned his passport to the Federal High Court, Abuja, which released it and authorised his foreign trip.
Dokpesi said, “I returned to the country on Friday. I was arrested for about 50 or 55 minutes at the airport. I was told that they had instructions from above to arrest me on my return but after a few phone calls and contacts, the immigration officer at the airport told me that he had instructions from above that I could leave. He gave me back my passport and said they would reach me subsequently.
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“On Monday, I received no instructions, and in line with the normal process, I returned my passport to the Federal High Court since I travelled on the basis of a judicial order or approval/permission. So I returned my passport – that I had returned and gave notice that I might go back for my check-up to ensure that the operation was successful. So I did not have the passport. When I got the letter on March 26, I replied the same day that I did not have the passport and that I had returned it to the Federal High Court. And that it had been duly acknowledged.”
“But the officer who interrogated me said they had expected me to go the Federal High Court and obtain the passport with their letter of invitation. I told him that I had returned the passport to the Federal High Court.
“If the NIS, on instructions from above, require my passport, they should write directly to the Federal High Court for the passport.”
Speaking earlier with journalists, the NIS Public Relations Officer, James Abraham, said that Dokpesi was invited for official-related issues and he had been released.
He however declined to give details of their discussions with him.
“Immigration is just doing its official assignment and when it is due for the public to know the outcome, they will know,’’ he said.
He said however that if a need to invite Dokpesi again arises, they will do so.
