Raymond Dokpesi arrested for rape allegations in UK; case adjourned until April

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Nigerian media businessman Raymond Dokpesi was arrested in London on Sunday evening on allegations of rape, according to British police sources.

Mr Dokpesi, owner of broadcaster AIT, was picked up at London Heathrow Airport as he landed from a connecting flight via Frankfurt on Sunday evening.

A London police source said: “On Sunday January 8, a 71-year-old man was arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of rape. The arrest relates to an allegation of rape in August 2019.

“The man has been released on bail, pending further investigation, until early April.

“Investigations into the circumstances are continuing,” the source said.

Mr. Dokpesi did not return a request for comment. His media group Daar Communications said on a broadcast announcing Mr Dokpesi’s release that he was arrested for a minor issue and was summarily released. The station remained silent on the decision by London police to trap Mr Dokpesi in the UK for the coming months.

The detention comes as Mr Dokpesi prepared to meet Mr Abubakar in London at a rally which a party source told The Gazette was linked to strategies leading up to next month’s presidential election. Mr. Abubakar is running in the elections as the main candidate of the opposition, the people’s democratic parties.

This development could effectively prevent Mr Dokpesi from playing an active role in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, scheduled for February 25.

Another key PDP politician, Ike Ekweremadu, has been in detention in London since his arrest in June 2022 on organ trafficking charges. A trial was due to begin in the case on January 31.

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