Abuja, Nigeria — Former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and three others don re-arraigned for court on top alleged N33.2 billion fraud. Judiciary matter happen on Tuesday for Federal Capital Territory High Court for Abuja, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dey bring the case.
Dasuki dey face trial with Aminu Baba-Kusa, wey be former General Manager for Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), plus two companies: Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited. Dem dey answer 32-count charge wey concern criminal breach of trust and release of public funds without proper process.
The court matter go under Justice Charles Agbaza, after the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, wey don dey handle the case before now, reassign the case. This one na part of the long journey wey Dasuki don follow since him first appear for court on December 14, 2015.
Originally, Dasuki and Shuaibu Salisu, wey be former Director of Finance and Administration under National Security Adviser, start with 19-count charge wey involve N15.5 billion. Salisu name later remove for the charges as the case continue to change. By May 11, 2018, dem re-arraign Dasuki and others with new 32-count charge wey dey link to N33.2 billion. But the trial don dey drag, as only one witness don testify before dem adjourn the case indefinitely.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the defendants all plead not guilty to the charges. Counsel for the prosecution, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, request make dem set trial date. Lawyers to Dasuki, A.A. Usman, and Richard Ibiye, appeal to make the defendants continue dey enjoy their bail, as dem don show up for every court meeting. The prosecution no get any wahala with the request but urge say make sure say dem dey present for trial.
After dem don consider all the submissions, Justice Agbaza agree make the defendants maintain their bail arrangement and adjourn the trial to July 1, 2025.
Plus, EFCC don file another case against Dasuki since 2015, wey involve other prominent persons like Bashir Yuguda, wey be former Minister of State for Finance, and Attahiru Bafarawa, wey don govern Sokoto State. Dis other case na on top 25-count charge wey concern criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of N19.4 billion, and e don shift to another judge, Yusuf Halilu.
