EFCC re-arraigns ex-NSA Dasuki, ex- NNPC GM Baba Kusa over alleged N33.2 billion fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba Kusa along with two companies, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited for alleged N33.2 billion frauds in an Abuja High Court.
The latest arraignment is before Justice Charles Agbaza after the reassignment of the case by the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, who previously handled the matter.
It would be recalled that on December 14, 2015, Dasuki and a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Shuaibu Salisu, were first arraigned before Justice Baba-Yusuf on a 19-count charge.
The charge, which was for alleged N15.5 billion fraud was later amended by the prosecutor because Salisu’s name was dropped from the charge.
Again, on May 11, 2018, Dasuki and others were re-arraigned on an amended 32-count charge, of criminal breach of trust, dishonest release and receiving various sums of money totalling N33.2 billion.
The prosecutor then only called a witness, the investigating officer of the alleged arms sleaze, and was yet to conclude his evidence-in-chief when the case was adjourned sine die.
The EFCC had in 2015 had prosecuted Col Dasuki in two different cases before Justice Baba-Yusuf, now the chief judge of FCT.
In the other case marked FCT/HC/CR/42/2015, Dasuki was listed as the second defendant with a former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda.
Dasuki was charged a former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, his son, Sagir and his company, Dalhatu Investment Limited who are facing a 25-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N19.4 billion.
Justice Baba-Yusuf has since transferred the case to Justice Yusuf Halilu.
Both cases had initially suffered a series of adjournments due to the refusal of the Department of State Service (DSS) to release Dasuki on bail.
When the case came up before Justice Agbaza on Tuesday, the defendants took their fresh plea of not guilty to the 32-counts preferred against them.
The prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe prayed for dates for the trial to begin.
Counsel for Dasuki, A.A. Usman and Richard Ibiye for Baba-Kusa and the company asked the court to allow the defendants to enjoy their existing bail.
The lawyers assured the court that the defendants have never failed to attend court.
Atolagbe did not oppose their prayers but said that the most important thing was for them to attend court.
Justice Agbaza afterwards allowed them to enjoy their existing bail and adjourned the matter to July 1, for trial.
