Media mogul Raymond Dokpesi’s U.S visa revoked over looters list

Media mogul and owner of popular Television station, Africa Independent Television, AIT. Raymond Dokpesi, ha had his US Visa revoked follow...

Media mogul and owner of popular Television station, Africa Independent Television, AIT. Raymond Dokpesi, ha had his US Visa revoked following the inclusion of his name in the Federal government's looters list.

According to Dokpesi, the Federal government after releasing the looters list, wrote to the US Embassy in Nigeria for his visa to be revoked, a request the embassy granted. The embassy in a letter dated March 16th, notified him of their decision to revoke his visa.

Dokpesi who is standing trial for allegedly receiving N2.2 billion from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has dragged the Federal government to court over the inclusion of his name in the looters list.

Dokpesi who is asking for N5 billion in damages, says the publication of his name as a looter was malicious since he has not been convicted by any court of competent jurisdiction.
The PDP chieftain in the suit filed by his counsel Mike Ozekhome before the Federal High Court Abuja, asked the court to compel the Federal government to issue a retraction and an apology to him which must be published both in the social media and in newspaper and televisions stations.
Raymond Dokpesi is also praying for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants or their agents from further making any defamatory publications against him, and N50million as cost of the action.
Mr Dokpesi also asked the court to stop the defendants from further publishing anything relating to the alleged defamatory remarks mentioned in the suit.

 

In the fundamental rights suit also dated April 30, Mr Dokpesi is asking the court to determine if the remarks related to him during the press briefing by Mr Mohammed did not amount to an abuse of his fundamental rights, as enshrined in sections 36 (5) of the Constitution; a violation of the provisions of section 133 (4), (5) and (9) of the Criminal Code Act, as well as section 155 of the penal code laws of the federation, 2004.
Mr Raymond Dokpesi is also asking the court to determine whether Mr Mohammed had the legal authority to pronounce him (Dokpesi) a public looter, without an order of court, to that effect.
He wants the court to issue an order nullifying the media publications where the said remarks were made.