Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), was yesterday brought before Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory [FCT] to answer criminal charges brought against him on the order of the court.
When his case was called, Dasuki was not in court and the judge had to stand down the matter for two hours and insisted that the trial will not be conducted until he had been brought before him as required by law in a criminal trial.
Dasuki was, however, brought to the court around 11am in compliance with the order under tight security.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja had on Wednesday ordered the Federal Government to produce Dasuki before him on February 16 to answer fresh criminal charges.
He said it was wrong of the government to have expected the court to conduct a criminal trial in the absence of the defendant and in violation of the law.
Three courts where Dasuki was arraigned for criminal charges had granted him bail, but he was yet to regain his freedom.
However, Dasuki’s prosecution yesterday in a case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged criminal diversion of over N19billion, has been stalled at the FCT High Court, Abuja.
The case was stalled following a letter from his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN) that he was handling election petition tribunal matter in Kogi State, prompting the court to adjourn the case to yesterday to enable him defend his client.
While other parties in the suit conceded to the letter, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), expressed reservations on grounds that the defence has lawyers who could have managed the case.
Justice Baba-Yusuf adjourned the case to January 22 for trial to commence.
Last month, the EFCC arraigned Dasuki and two others on 19 counts of misappropriation of $2.1 billion funds meant for purchase of arms before an FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
Those charged with the former NSA were a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, and Aminu Baba-Kusa.
Baba-Kausa’s two firms – Acacia Holdings Ltd and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited – were also charged.
The founder of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Alegho Dokpesi, was also charged with Dasuki and others.
In a 19-count charge preferred against Dasuki, Baba-Kusa and others, the EFCC accused them of money laundering and criminal breach of trust.
The charge sheet named Acacia Holdings and Referral Hospital as fourth and fifth defendants, who were also represented by the second accused , Baba – Kusa.
They were accused of misappropriating about N32 billion between January 13, 2013 and April 17,2015 in violation of Section 315 of the Nigerian Penal Code Act, and Section 17 (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.
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