Wednesday 4 May 2016

Arms deal: FG fails to produce Dasuki in court again

An FCT High Court yesterday adjourned the trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Col. Sambo Dasuki on charges of diversion of arms funds after the federal government failed to produce him.Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf adjourned the case to enable the prosecution produce Dasuki, who is still being held by the Department of State Services (DSS).The judge said it was the duty of the prosecution to bring the defendant to court at all times.Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe had informed the judge that he had made serious efforts to contact the DSS to produce Dasuki and regretted that his efforts did not yield fruits.He pleaded for a stand-down of the matter to enable the lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) appear and throw more light on theabsence of Dasuki.But defence counsels Akin Olujimi (SAN) and Solomon Umoh (SAN) both objected to the application, arguing that Jacobs’ appearance would be meaningless without Dasuki in court.Dasuki was arraigned along with Salisu Shu’aibu, a former Director of Finance at the NSA’s office; Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former Group Executive Director of NNPC; Acacia Holdings Ltd, and Reliance Referral Hospital Ltd on 19-counts charges of diversion of funds totaling N32 billion.The case has been adjourned to May 23 for hearing.

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