The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned former National Security Adviser, retired Col.
Sambo Dasuki, and three others over an alleged N33.2 billion fraud at the Abuja High Court.
Dasuki was charged alongside Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and two companies—Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
The case was reassigned to Justice Charles Agbaza following a directive from the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, who previously presided over the matter.
The former NSA was first arraigned on December 14, 2015, alongside former Director of Finance and Administration at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Shuaibu Salisu, on a 19-count charge related to an alleged N15.5 billion fraud.
The charge was later amended after Salisu’s name was removed. In May 2018, the EFCC further amended the case, filing a 32-count charge against Dasuki and his co-defendants for alleged criminal breach of trust and fraudulent disbursement of N33.2 billion.
Before the case was adjourned indefinitely, the prosecution had only called one witness, an investigating officer. Meanwhile, Dasuki was also facing a separate trial in another case involving a former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, ex-Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, his son Sagir, and their company, Dalhatu Investment Limited.
They were charged with misappropriating N19.4 billion in public funds.
That case was transferred to Justice Yusuf Halilu.
Both cases experienced multiple adjournments in the past due to the State Security Services’ refusal to grant Dasuki bail.
During Tuesday’s court session, all defendants pleaded not guilty to the 32-count charges.
Prosecuting counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe requested trial dates, while defense lawyers A.A. Usman and Richard Ibiye urged the court to allow the defendants to remain on their existing bail terms, emphasizing their compliance with court appearances.
Justice Agbaza granted their request and adjourned the case to July 1 for trial.