A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has commenced a fresh trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, over allegations of misappropriating N33.2 billion in public funds—ten years after his initial arraignment.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned Dasuki alongside Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former general manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), as well as Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
The defendants are facing a 32-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and dishonest release of public funds.
The case, previously handled by Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, has now been reassigned to Justice Charles Agbaza, prompting a fresh start to the trial.
Dasuki was first arraigned on December 14, 2015, before Justice Baba-Yusuf, alongside Shuaibu Salisu, a former director of finance and administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, on 19 counts related to an alleged N15.5 billion fraud.
The charges were later amended, with Salisu’s name removed. On May 11, 2018, Dasuki and others were re-arraigned on the current 32-count charge, increasing the alleged fraud sum to N33.2 billion.
Despite multiple court sittings, the case dragged on for years, with the prosecution managing to present only one witness before the trial was adjourned indefinitely.
At Tuesday’s session, Dasuki and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to the fresh charges. Oluwaleke Atolagbe, the prosecution counsel, then requested a trial date.
Defence lawyers, A.A. Usman and Richard Ibiye, urged the court to allow the defendants to continue on their existing bail, assuring that they had always complied with court proceedings.
The prosecution did not object but emphasized the need for their continued presence throughout the trial.
Justice Agbaza granted the request and adjourned the case to July 1 for trial commencement.
Dasuki is also facing another corruption case filed by the EFCC in 2015, where he was charged alongside:Bashir Yuguda (former Minister of State for Finance), Attahiru Bafarawa (former Sokoto State Governor),Sagir Bafarawa (his son), and Dalhatu Investment Limited.
They are accused of misappropriating N19.4 billion and face 25 counts of criminal breach of trust.
The case has also been reassigned to Justice Yusuf Halilu.
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