A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, told an Abuja High Court that retired Col. Sambo Dasuki duly signed the payment mandates made to the two companies charged in his trial.
Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser (NSA), is facing trial on an amended 32-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, dishonest release and receiving various sums of money to the tune of N33.2 billion.
He was accused of misappropriation of security funds in the accounts of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), alongside a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa.
The other two firms are Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited. The EFCC arraigned the four defendants afresh on March 25, in a case that started in 2015.
The prosecution accused Dasuki, among others, of releasing the equivalent of N10 billion in foreign currencies from the NSA’s account and the account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the 2014 presidential primary election of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Dasuki and his co-defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At the resumed hearing, PW1, Adariku Michael, a detective with the EFCC, informed the court that his team wrote a letter to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) requesting the registration status of various companies and individuals. He was taken in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
According to him, CAC responded and the responses were admitted in evidence since the defendants did not object. He said the analysis of the responses revealed that the 2nd defendant (Baba-Kusa) owned the two companies mentioned.
The defendants’ counsel, A. Usman for Dasuki, Solomon Umoh (SAN) for Baba-Kusa and Acacia Holdings Limited and A O Ayodele for Reliance Referral Hospital Limited, reserved their objections.
Justice Charles Agbaza, thereafter, adjourned the case till January 13, 2026, for continuation of the hearing.
