$2.1b arms fund: Court refuses separate trial for Ex-Gov Bafarawa, Dasuki, others

Andrew Orolua, Abuja.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court sitting in Maitama District of Abuja on Thursday refused to separate the joint trial of former National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), former governor of Sokoto state Attahiru Bafarawa, his son Sagir Bafarawa, former Minister of State for finance, Bashir Yuguda and former director of finance in the office of the National Security Adviser, Salisu Shaibu.

Justice Husseni Baba- Yusuf said in his ruling that the application filed by Bafarawa and his son Sagir lacks merit and should be dismissed.

He said the application has been overtaken by events especially with the presence of Dasuki in court yesterday.

“Those with the power to produce Dasuki in court for trial along with Bafarawa, son and other defendants have already produced him in court and I hope they will continue to produce him” , the judge added.

The judge further held that it would be speculative to assume that Dasuki will not be present in court on the subsequent trial dates.

Alhaji Bafarawa and his son Sagir had in an application prayed the court to separate their trial from the former National Security adviser (NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki in the $2.1 billion arms fund diversion corruption charges filed against them by the Federal government.

The two applicants who are the fourth and fifth defendants in the charges had in their application complained to Justice Baba- Yusuf that their joint trial with Dasuki was oppressive and affecting their daily life because of the incessant delay of the trial.

In their motion for separation of trial which was argued by the counsel, Dr. Kayode Olatoke (SAN), the former governor and his son prayed the court to prosecute them separately without Dasuki to ensure accelerated trial in the criminal charges.

They claimed that a joint charge against them and other defendants for the alleged offences committed together was not a bar to their being trial separately and that other defendants will not be prejudiced.

The ex governor and his son informed the Abuja High Court that their trial without Dasuki will guarantee their constitutional rights to a speedy trial within a reasonable time in line with section 36 of the 1999 constitution.

They claimed that the trial which commenced since 2015 could not make progress because of the various motions filed by other defendants which they claimed had led to constant delay.

Besides they said the continued detention of Dasuki by DSS and the inability to bring him to court for trial had negatively affected the trial of the case occasioning delays that have affected their family businesses and daily lifes.

The court has adjourned the matter till December 6 and 7 for hearing.