•Sambo Dasuki
A Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed September 24, 25 and 26 for the federal government to conclude the 10-year-old prosecution of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki, for alleged unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering charges.
Justice Peter Lifu gave the directive today after he granted the federal government’s application for adjournment to enable it to bring additional witnesses, and to allow the defendant to open his defence, reports Daily Trust.
The judge further directed the federal government to call its remaining witnesses or tender exhibits to conclude the case.
At the last proceedings, a witness of the federal government, Monsur Mohammed, claimed that upon the arrest of the former NSA, the Department of State Services (DSS) searched his houses in Abuja, Kaduna and Sokoto for firearms and money.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Oladipupo Okpeseyi (SAN), the witness introduced himself as the exhibits’ keeper with the DSS.
At Dasuki’s House at 46, Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro, he listed two compact discs of Freedom Radio on Jokolo, two GTB cheque books, two blackberries’ phones, Nokia phone, a flash drive, Apple Laptop and statement of account as part of items found in the house.
Others are visa card, approval letter of a radio station granted to Afri-Media Integrated Ltd, one CD on arrest and execution of Mohammed Yusuf, 500 US dollars, 533 Saudi Riyadh, Data page on Abubakar Dasuki Ibrahim, HSBC account book of Abubakar Dasuki Ibrahim, and cheque book of Habibson Ltd, among others.
Dasuki was arrested and charged with misappropriation of $2.1 billion arms purchase funds in 2015.
Dasuki regained freedom on the eve of Christmas of 2019 after national outcry on disobedience of several court orders, including the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice for his bail.
He is also facing charges before an FCT High Court filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged misappropriation of N19.4 billion arms funds.
Those arraigned with him are: a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, his son, Sagir and their firm, Dalhatu Investment Limited.
