‘N19bn Arms Funds’: Dasuki, others get trial dates

The trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and four others have been adjourned till April 13 and 14, 2021 for continuation by an FCT High Court in Abuja.

Justice Hussini Baba-Yusuf fixed the date Wednesday after dismissing an objection raised by Dasuki’s lawyer, Yinka Adedipe, against the withdrawal of a document by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer.

Dasuki, is the second defendants in the case, marked FCT/HC/CR/42/2015, is standing trial alongside a former minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, his son Sagir and the firm, Dalhatu Investment Limited.

They were arraigned on a 25-count charge on alleged criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N19.4billion.

The Judge held that the defendants’ objection was misconceived.

According to the Judge, the authority cited by Adedipe was misconstrued, saying that the prosecutor was within his right to withdraw the document since he did not join issue with the defendants’ counsel.

While overruling the defendants’ objection to the withdrawal of the document by EFCC counsel, the Judge held further, “ The objection is misconceived and therefore, the documents stands withdrawn.”

On March 13, 2020, the prosecution sought to tender a document through the first prosecution witness (PW1), Kazeem Yusuf, but all the counsel for the defendants objected to it being tendered.

Rotimi Jacob SAN, the prosecuting counsel then applied to withdraw the said document which was also objected to by Adedipe, who said the withdrawal could not be done since the defence and counsel for other defendants has equally objected to it.

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