Embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Col. Sambo Dasuki on Tuesday brought a fresh application before an FCT High Court to stop his trial over alleged diversion of arms funds.
Dasuki was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a 22-counts charge. Those also arraigned are: Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State, his son Sagir Attahiru; Bashir Yuguda, former Minister of Finance; Dalhatu Investment Ltd, a company owned by Sagir and Shuaibu Salisu, a former director of Finance in the office of the NSA.
Dasuki was not brought to court and the prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), said Dasuki was dressing up. He asked the court to stand down the case or adjourn it till Wednesday. Defence counsels did not object to the application.
But Dasuki’s counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN) brought an application asking the court to discharge Dasuki until the orders of the court over his bail are complied with.
In his ruling, Justice Peter Affen adjourned the case to February 26 for the application. However, shortly after the ruling, Dasuki was brought into the court around 10:22 am.
Dasuki is being prosecuted before the court on 19 counts of diversion of N32bn arms fund, along with a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu and a former Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Aminu Baba-Kusa.
Aminu-Kausa’s two firms – Acacia Holdings Ltd and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited – are also part of the accused.
In the applications filed before the two judges, Dasuki’s lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), argued that the prosecution lacked the right to continue to prosecute him.
Dasuki was re-arrested by operatives of the DSS on December 29, 2015 shortly after he was released from prison upon fulfilling the bail conditions granted him by Justice Yusuf on December 18.
This, in the view of Dasuki’s legal team, amounted to disobedience of the order granting bail to their client.