Why we questioned Dokpesi — Immigration Service | Nairalaw

Media mogul and founding chairman of African Independent
Television, AIT, and a senior member of the opposition Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, was quizzed by
Immigration officials for two fundamental reasons bordering on
alleged violation of Nigerian immigration laws,
Comptroller-General, Mohammed Babandede, has said.

The media executive was invited for questioning shortly after
officials alleged that he travelled and returned to the country in
manners that are unclear.

Dokpesi spoke with journalists shortly after he was grilled,
Wednesday, confirming his visit had to do with his latest trip
overseas.

But Babandede’s explanation of what transpired contradicted what
Dokpesi told reporters, Wednesday.

“We do not know how he left the country, whether through the
land, air or sea,” Babandede said.

Dokpesi said he received clearance from the court to allow him
to travel out, but Babandede told PREMIUM TIMES the Immigration
does not have any information from the court in that respect.

Babandede added: “He (Dokpesi) was only invited for questioning
in respect of crossing borders based on the powers given to us by
the Immigration Act 2015. He was never detained.

“Also, this has nothing to do with the Federal Government. It
has to do with the Nigerian Immigration Service under my
leadership.”

In his interaction with reporters in Abuja Wednesday, Dokpesi
acknowledged that the Nigerian government has the powers to
retrieve his passport from him, but said the government itself has
to be subservient to a judicial pronouncement on the matter.

Dokpesi said he voluntarily returned his passport to the Federal
High Court shortly after he returned to the country, and he could
be trusted to always do so as his medical treatment demanded.

He Dokpesi was arraigned in late 2015 for alleged violation of
procurement law and benefitting up to N2.1 billion in shady media
contracts for his associated outlets.