BY VICTOR BUORO – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has tendered more evidence in the trial of retired Col Sambo Dasuki and three others before an Abuja High Court.
Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser (NSA), is charged with an amended 32-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, dishonest release and receipts of various sums of money to the tune of N33.2 billion.
He is facing trial over allegations of misappropriating security funds in the accounts of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), alongside a former General Manager with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa.
The other defendants are two firms: Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
Arraigning the four defendants afresh on March 25 in a case that began in 2015, the EFCC had, among others, accused Dasuki, of releasing the equivalent of N10 billion in foreign currencies from the NSA’s account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the 2014 presidential primary election of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Dasuki and his co-defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, marked as FCT/HC/CR/43/2015.
At the resumed hearing of the case, PW1, Adariku Michael, a detective with EFCC, informed the court that the Commission received an intelligence report on 21st September 2015, bordering on abuse of office and money laundering.
He was taken in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) while alleging that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) moved huge sums of money between October 2014 and April 2015 to accounts of various companies as well as individuals.
According to the witness, the report was assigned to a special Task Force headed by ACE Halimah Kazeem, adding that on receiving the report, the Task Force swung into action and wrote a letter to the CBN.
The witness narrated how money from the ONSA account in the CBN was transferred to different bank accounts of individuals and companies
Also responses from requests sent to CBN and other banks were tendered in evidence and marked as exhibits.
Counsels to the defendants, 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.
As suggested by Umoh, the parties agreed to be shown the documents before the proceedings so that the trial can go smoothly.
Meanwhile, Justice Charles Agbaza has adjourned the case until November 11, 2025, for continuation of hearing. – With NAN report
