Former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Col. Sambo Dasuki
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday submitted additional documents as evidence in the ongoing trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), and three others before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
Dasuki is facing an amended 32-count charge that includes allegations of criminal breach of trust, dishonest release, and receipt of public funds amounting to ₦33.2 billion.
The former NSA is accused of diverting money earmarked for national security through the accounts of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Also standing trial are a former General Manager at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa, along with two companies — Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
The EFCC re-arraigned the defendants on March 25, reviving a case that originally began in 2015. The prosecution alleges that Dasuki authorized the release of about ₦10 billion, converted into foreign currencies, from the NSA’s account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to fund the 2014 presidential primary election of the then-ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
All defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which are listed under case number FCT/HC/CR/43/2015.
At the resumed hearing, Adariku Michael, a detective with the EFCC, testified as the prosecution’s first witness (PW1). Led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Michael told the court that the EFCC received an intelligence report on September 21, 2015, alleging abuse of office and money laundering involving the ONSA.
According to him, “the report was immediately assigned to a special task force headed by ACE Halimah Kazeem,” which then wrote to the CBN requesting details of transactions from the ONSA account.
Michael narrated how large sums were allegedly moved from the ONSA’s account at the CBN between October 2014 and April 2015 to various individuals and companies. He added that responses from the CBN and several commercial banks were obtained and have now been tendered as exhibits.
Defense counsel — A.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 to the new documents.
To ensure a smooth proceeding, Justice Charles Agbaza agreed with the defense’s suggestion that all parties review the documents ahead of the next sitting.
The court has adjourned the case until November 11 for continuation of hearing.
