The long-awaited trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) over the alleged N33.2 billion fraud has resumed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, a decade after the case was first filed in 2015 during the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
Dasuki, alongside three other defendants, was re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 32 charges, including criminal breach of trust, dishonest release of funds, and the receipt of sums amounting to N33.2 billion.
The co-defendants are Aminu Baba-Kusa, the former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and two companies—Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
The re-arraignment took place before Justice Charles Agbaza, who was newly assigned to the case by the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf. This marks the beginning of a fresh trial after years of delays and legal challenges.
Dasuki’s initial arraignment occurred on December 14, 2015, when he faced 19 charges related to an alleged N15.5 billion fraud.
The charges were later amended, and a co-defendant, Shuaibu Salisu, was removed from the case. On May 11, 2018, Dasuki and the remaining defendants were re-arraigned on amended charges of N33.2 billion.
The prosecution had called only one witness, the investigating officer, before the case was adjourned indefinitely.
The EFCC had also filed a separate case against Dasuki in 2015, involving former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda; former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir Bafarawa; and their company, Dalhatu Investment Limited.
The charges in this case involved a misappropriation of N19.4 billion and were later transferred to Justice Yusuf Halilu.
Throughout the proceedings, numerous delays occurred, particularly with the Department of State Services (DSS) refusing to release Dasuki on bail despite several court orders.
On Tuesday, during the resumed trial, all four defendants pleaded not guilty to the 32 counts read against them.
The prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, requested a date for the trial to commence, while the defense lawyers for Dasuki and Baba-Kusa—A.A. Usman and Richard Ibiye, respectively—asked the court to allow the defendants to continue benefiting from their existing bail arrangements.
The defense assured the court that the defendants had consistently attended previous court sessions without fail. The prosecution did not object to the request, though it emphasized the importance of the defendants’ continued attendance.
Justice Agbaza granted the request and allowed the defendants to remain on their existing bail conditions. The trial was adjourned until July 1, 2025, for further proceedings.
