A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has fixed September 24, 25 and 26 for the federal government to conclude the prosecution over alleged unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering charges commenced 10 years ago against a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki. The presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, gave the order this afternoon after he granted the federal government’s application for adjournment to enable it to bring additional witnesses and to allow the defendant to open his defense.
Moreover, the judge also directed that the federal government should call its remaining witnesses or tender exhibits to round up the case.
During its last proceedings, the federal government presented a witness, Monsur Mohammed, who claimed that during the time of Dasuki’s arrest, the Department of State Services (DSS) searched his houses in Abuja, Kaduna, and Sokoto for firearms and money.
While presenting the evidence by the prosecution counsel, Oladipupo Okpeseyi (SAN), the witness introduced himself as the exhibits’ keeper with the DSS.
He said, at Dasuki’s house at 46 Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro, he listed two compact discs of Freedom Radio on Jokolo, two GTB checkbooks, two BlackBerry phones, a Nokia phone, a flash drive, an Apple laptop, and a statement of account as part of the items found in the house.
Others comprised a Visa card, an approval letter of a radio station granted to Afri-Media Integrated Ltd, one CD on the arrest and execution of Mohammed Yusuf, 500 US dollars, 533 Saudi Riyals, a data page on Abubakar Dasuki Ibrahim, an HSBC account book of Abubakar Dasuki Ibrahim, and a cheque book of Habibson Ltd, among others.
Dasuki was arrested and charged with misappropriation of $2.1 billion in arms purchase funds in 2015 paid to his office by the government of former president Goodluck Jonathan.
Dasuki regained freedom on the eve of Christmas of 2019 after national outcry by concerned Nigerians on disobedience of several court orders by the federal government, including the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, for his bail.
The former NSA is also facing charges before an FCT High Court filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged misappropriation of N19.4 billion in arms funds.
Other personalities arraigned with Dasuki include a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; the former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir; and their firm, Dalhatu Investment Limited.