Former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and three others were re-arraigned on Tuesday in the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja for an alleged N33.2 billion fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Dasuki, a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation named Aminu Baba-Kusa, as well as two firms, Acaci Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
The defendants face a 32-count accusation for alleged criminal breach of trust and dishonest release of public monies.
Their re-arraignment before Justice Charles Agbaza followed the reassignment of the case by the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, who had previously handled it.
Dasuki was originally arraigned before Justice Baba-Yusuf on December 14, 2015, alongside Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, on a 19-count allegation stemming from an alleged N15.5 billion fraud.
The allegations were later revised, and Salisu’s name was dropped. Dasuki and the others were re-arraigned on May 11, 2018, on a new 32-count charge totalling N33.2 billion.
However, the trial was stopped because the prosecution only brought one witness—the investigating officer—who had yet to finish his testimony before the case was adjourned indefinitely.
In 2015, the EFCC indicted Dasuki alongside former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda, former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa, his son Sagir Bafarawa, and his company, Dalhatu Investment Limited. They faced a 25-count accusation for criminal breach of trust and misuse of N19.4 billion.
The case was recently transferred to Justice Yusuf Halilu.
Both cases were repeatedly delayed due to the Department of State Services’ refusal to release Dasuki on bail, despite court orders granting him bail.
During the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 32 counts read to them.
The prosecution’s counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, then requested a trial date.
A.A. Usman and Richard Ibiye, lawyers representing Dasuki and Baba-Kusa, urged the court to allow the defendants to stay on their current bond, stating that they had always been present for court appearances.
The prosecution did not dispute the motion but emphasised the need for the defendants’ ongoing presence during the trial.
After hearing statements from both parties, Justice Agbaza determined that the defendants should continue on their current bail and delayed the trial until July 1.
