Dasuki Files Fresh Suit To Stop Corruption Charges

Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, on Tuesday filed a fresh application to quash the alleged $2.1 billion criminal proceedings levelled against him by the Department for State Service, DSS.

Dasuki has been in custody of the country’s secret police and past court orders to release him were not adhered to.

On Tuesday, Dasuki filed his suit before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

At the resumed hearing, his counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, told the court that he had filed a fresh application to quash the charges.

However, counsel to Federal Government, Dipo Okpeseyi, SAN, informed the court that the case had been slated for trial and the prosecution was ready. He called the judge’s attention to the fact that Dasuki’s detention by the DSS had nothing to do with the current charges before the court.

He urged the court to continue with the trial in line with the provisions of the relevant sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. Okpeseyi said the suspect’s trial has attracted both national and international attention.

But Dasuki’s counsel said his client was not ready for trial, following his prolonged detention by the DSS. He submitted that the defendant was empowered by law to be given adequate time and facility to prepare for his defence.

Daudu prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable him respond to the counter-affidavit filed by prosecution.

The judge, in his ruling ordered the defence to file their reply on the prosecution’s application for secret trial and the defence counter-affidavit within seven days, while he directed that the defendant be brought to court at every stage of the proceedings. He then adjourned the matter till March 3 for hearing.

Dasuki was arraigned by the FG on a seven-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, possession of illegal firearms and money laundering, to which he pleaded not guilty.