Sambo Dasuki
Top Story

Money-Laundering: Court Moves Dasuki Trial To May 2, 2018

294

By Amos Dunia, Persecond News

Abuja – A Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday adjourned the trial of former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), to May 2 and 3, 2018 for definite trial in an alleged money-laundering charges brought against him by the Federal Government.

The trial judge, Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf announced the new date after he was presented with a Supreme Court judgment of March 2, 2018 which ordered accelerated hearing of the case.

As a means of ensuring effective management of the two separate charges against Dasuki and other defendants, the court fixed April 13 for a pre-trial conference to be attended by seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) involved in the case so as to enable them take common position on documents from the prosecution and defendants.

During the Conference which will be presided over by Justice Baba Yusuf, all documents that are not contentious will be admitted from the bar while the contentious ones are to be tendered during trial to ensure speedy hearing of the cases which was filed in September 2015.

 

Senior counsels involved in the matter, especially Mr. Rotimi Jacobs for the prosecution, Ahmed Raji, Akin Olujimi, Olajide Ayodele, Kayode Olatoke, Hakeem Afolabi and Solomon Umoh, who are standing for different defendants in the trial, all agreed with the Supreme Court decision for accelerated hearing and the pre-trial conference to sort out all the contentious issues.

 

Ahmed Raji, who led the legal team of Dasuki told the court that the decision of the Supreme Court indicated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is different from the Department of State Services (DSS), and that both are not serving the same government.

The Federal Government had slammed charges against Dasuk, the Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Salisu Shuaib Aminu and Baba-Kusa of Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital on alleged money-laundering and criminal breach of trust.

Although the charges was filed in 2015, proper trial could not commenced due to the failure of the Federal Government to allow the principal defendant in the matter, Sambo Dasuki to enjoy the bail and other bails granted him by different courts since 2015.

 

In a bid to enforce the bail order, Dasuki had approached the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to compel the Federal Government to allow him go on bail as ordered by the trial court just like other defendants, to enable him access his lawyers and prepare for his defence.

 

However, both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court had in their separate judgments disagreed with Dasuki that the Federal Government did not obey the bail order. The two courts held that since his bail at the Kuje Prison was endorsed by the Controller of Prison and was released before he was re-arrested by another agent of the federal government, the bail had been obeyed at that level.

Justice Baba-Yusuf in his brief comment, appealed to the senior lawyers involved in the matter to cooperate with one another, especially with the prosecution to allow the trial to flow so that justice of the case can be met within a reasonable time.

The judge said that as minister in the temple of justice, the senior lawyers should do away with sentiments and do their jobs as legal practitioners of reputable standing in the interest of justice for both parties.

 

At the proceeding, apart from Sambo Dasuki, former Governor of Sokoto, Attahiru Bafarawa and former minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda among others were all present in court to answer the charges against them.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

$1m blackmail plot against ex-NPA boss, Bello-Koko: Fake EFCC officials busted, arraigned

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two alleged members...

Gunmen kill two soldiers in Abia checkpoint attack

Gunmen attacked an army checkpoint in Ekenobizi, a border community between Abia...

Nigeria’s Domestic Debt Reaches N66.957trn in H1 2024

Nigeria’s domestic debt stock has surged to N66.957 trillion in the first...

VP Shettima, Govs. Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, others witness Okpebholo’s inauguration as Edo Governor

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Ogun counterpart, Dapo...

VP Shettima Arrives in Benin City for Edo Governor’s Inauguration

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Benin City, Edo State capital,...

Tinubu Calls for Immediate End to Israeli Aggression in Gaza, Supports Two-State Solution

President Bola Tinubu has called for an immediate cessation of Israeli aggression...

N5.4trn subsidy savings, bolster for nation’s infrastructure, social programmes – Onanuga

The Presidency has announced that the estimated N5.4 trillion saved from subsidy...

NPA firefighters extinguish APMT crane fire, no fatalities recorded

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) firefighters, with assistance from other sister agencies,...

NPA set to link export processing terminals with domestic export warehouses

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has unveiled plans to connect Export Processing...

Nigerian stars set to shine at 2025 Grammy Awards with record nominations

Nigerian music stars have taken the spotlight in the 2025 Grammy Award...

FG launches free Caesarean section initiative for Nigerian women

The Federal Government has launched a life-changing initiative, providing free Caesarean sections...

NNPC Ltd. disclaims video of adulterated fuel sold in bottles, jerrycans

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has issued a strong...

New Terror Group “Lukarawas” Emerges in North-West Nigeria

A new terrorist group, known as “Lukarawas,” has surfaced in North-West Nigeria,...

Two fatalities, many injured as hoodlums detonate IED at Imo Market

Disaster has hit Orlu International Market in Imo State following the detonation...

Just in: Trump wins US presidential election

Donald Trump has won the US presidential election, US media announced on...

Tinubu confirms Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja’s passing

President Bola Tinubu has formally announced the death of Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Abiodun...

Protest: Kyari not responsible for fuel price hike – NNPC Ltd

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has come out strongly in...

Just in: FG reverses 18-year-old admission benchmark in tertiary institutions

Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has abolished the 18-year admission...

FG terminates Julius Berger’s N740bln Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project

The Federal Ministry of Works has issued a 14-day termination notice to...

Just in: FG withdraws treason charges against #Endbadgovernance protesters

The Federal High Court in Abuja has terminated the treason charges brought...