After 10 years, Court gives FG Sept 26 deadline to conclude case against Dasuki

Peter Lifu, judge of the federal high court, Abuja, has given the federal government three days September 24, 25 and 26 to conclude its 10-year prosecution of Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA).

Dasuki, a retired colonel, was arraigned in 2015 under the administration of the late Muhammadu Buhari.

He is facing a seven-count amended charge bordering on unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering.

He was granted bail in 2017 after spending two years in custody and is expected to open his defence once the prosecution closes its case.

At Monday’s proceedings, Lifu directed the government’s legal team to call its remaining witnesses, if any, and tender all outstanding exhibits.

During the session, Monsur Mohammed, a witness for the prosecution, told the court that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) searched Dasuki’s houses in Abuja, Kaduna and Sokoto for firearms and money after his arrest.

Mohammed, who works as an exhibits keeper with the DSS, listed items recovered from Dasuki’s Abuja residence at 46 Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro.

They include two Compact Discs of Freedom Radio on Jokolo, two GTBank cheque books, two Blackberry phones, a Nokia phone, flash drive, Apple laptop, statement of account, a visa card, approval letter of a radio station granted to Afri-Media Integrated Ltd, and one CD on the arrest and execution of Mohammed Yusuf.

Others are $500, 533 Saudi Riyals, data page of Abubakar Dasuki Ibrahim, HSBC account book of Abubakar Dasuki Ibrahim, and a cheque book of Habibson Ltd belonging to the same person.

The judge admitted the items as exhibits MSD 015 to MSD 034 after Ahmed Usman, counsel to Dasuki, raised no objection.

Mohammed also testified that a search at Dasuki’s house in Sabo Birni, Sokoto state, led to the recovery of $150,000 and N37.6 million.

He said the money was deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The prosecution said the DSS would be asked to bring the cash to court to be tendered as evidence.

At Dasuki’s house on Sultan Abubakar Road, Sokoto, the witness said nothing incriminating was found.

The prosecution then applied for an adjournment to present other items recovered during four search operations at the defendant’s properties.

Granting the request, Lifu warned the government to be ready to close its case during the next hearing, after which Dasuki will open his defence.