Dasuki’s Trial Adjourned Till December As Lawyer Refutes Fg’s Claims On Burial Visit

BEVERLY HILLS, November 16, (THEWILL) – The trial of Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser (NSA), was adjourned till December 7 for further hearing following a concession agreed upon by all the counsel concerned.

The trial which came up at an High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf could not go on as Dasuki was not in court.

Dasuki had been arraigned, alongside Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser; and, Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former NNPC Executive Director; before Justice Baba-Yusuf by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on diversion of about N13.6 billion.

Also being tried were two firms, Acacia Holding Ltd. and Reliance Referral Hospital Ltd.

In a second case, Dasuki, along with Bashir Yuguda; Salisu; Dalhatu Investment Ltd; Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Bafaarawa, former governor of Sokoto State, was arraigned on a 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy, bribery, and abuse of office and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N28.315 million.

Both cases were streamlined by the court following the movement of the two case files to one as Joseph Daudu, counsel to Dasuki, had prayed the court to consolidate the two cases against his client.

However, when the case was called on Wednesday , Dasuki was absent.

THEWILL recalls that Dasuki's father, the 18th Sultan of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki, died on Monday and was buried on Tuesday .

Speaking to reporters at the end of the court session, Ahmed Raji, another counsel to Dasuki, declared the federal government's claim that it offered Dasuki an opportunity to attend his father's burial was improper.

Raji said the purported offer was doubtful because none of his client's lawyers was contacted on the issue.

“As his counsel, we are not aware of that offer. Our client has not told us anything of that nature,” he said.

“We would have expected that if such a gesture was going to be made to him we as his counsel should have been involved so that we can advise him properly. As I am speaking to you, I am hearing of this for the first time.”

Story by Oputah David