The trial of former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), took a decisive turn on Wednesday as the EFCC detailed how billions meant for election security allegedly flowed from government coffers to private companies and individuals.
Testifying before Justice C.O. Agbaza of the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, the first prosecution witness, Dr Michael Adariku, said investigators traced substantial transfers from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to Acacia Holdings Limited and other beneficiaries.
Led by Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the EFCC investigator told the court that funds were paid into Acacia Holdings’ UBA account, including transactions in May 2015 covering payments to IBB Golf Club, Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), Aravcaria Farms Ltd, and Mohammed Zaharadeen Baba Kusa, son of the second defendant.
More significantly, the witness disclosed that N600 million and N200 million were sent to Acacia Holdings’ UBA account, N650 million to its Ecobank account, and N750 million to Reliance Referral Hospital Limited’s First Bank account. The total sum of N2.2 billion, he said, formed part of N5 billion transferred from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Signature Bonus account to ONSA in April 2015.
According to the EFCC, the N5 billion was released to provide security for the 2015 gubernatorial and state assembly elections. However, investigations revealed that the funds were allegedly diverted to companies and individuals linked to the second defendant rather than used for election security.
Dr Adariku further testified that documents obtained from the CBN showed the transfers were authorised through payment mandates from ONSA, signed by the former NSA and the then Director of Finance and Administration. These documents were admitted in evidence as exhibits.
He told the court that analysis of Acacia Holdings’ Ecobank statement showed multiple transfers to the second defendant and associates, including payments for land purchases in Abuja and Kwali, FCT, as well as a N250 million withdrawal recorded as a “miscellaneous customer debit”.
The witness also confirmed that the EFCC invited the defendants during the investigation, noting that the second defendant honoured the invitation and made voluntary statements in the presence of his lawyer after being informed of allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.
However, the admissibility of those statements was challenged by defence counsel on the grounds of non-compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, prompting the court to order a trial-within-trial.
Justice Agbaza adjourned proceedings to February 24 and 25, 2026, to determine the issue.
Dasuki, alongside Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited, is facing a 32-count charge over alleged breaches of trust and dishonest dealings amounting to N33.2 billion.
