The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, filed
a motion at a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court, seeking
separate trial for former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo
Dasuki.
In 2015, the anti-graft agency had preferred charges against Dasuki in
two separate suits before Hussein Baba-Yusuf, a judge of the FCT high
court.
In the first suit, the former NSA was tried alongside former minister
of state for finance, Bashir Yuguda; former Sokoto state governor,
Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir and his company, Dalhatu Investment
Limited.
They were charged on a 25-count charge bordering on criminal breach of
trust and misappropriation of public fund to the tune N19.4 billion.
In the other suit, he was tried alongside Aminu Baba- Kusa, a former
general manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and
two firms: Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital
Limited.
They were re-arraigned 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.
In an open letter in 2018, 2018, Dasuki said he would no longer attend
trial until the Department of State Services (DSS) complies with
orders of different courts which ordered his release.
At the last adjourned date, Rotimi Jacobs, the EFCC counsel, expressed
dissatisfaction over the continuous absence of Dasuki in the cases.
“We can’t be in the same place for four years without moving,” he said.
He informed the court that the prosecution had filed a motion dated
November 4, seeking the continuation of trial in Dasuki’s absence.
Jacobs also added that the charges against the other defendants in
both suits might be amended to remove Dasuki’s name to enable other
defendants face their trial without further delay.
Responding, Solomon Umoh, counsel to Baba-Kusa, vehemently objected to
the submissions of the prosecution.
He said Dasuki is central to the charge against other defendants and
that if he is separated others will not get fair trial.
Court session did not hold as scheduled on Wednesday. The case was
adjourned till February 13, 2020, to hear the separation separation
filed by the prosecution.
