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

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja has given three days: September 24, 25 and 26 to Federal Government to round up its 10 years old prosecution of a former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

Dasuki was put to trial in 2015 following his arrest for an alleged unlawful possession of firearms and for money laundering charges .

The judge also on Monday directed the federal government counsel to call its remaining witnesses if any and to tender all exhibits in its position.

Recall that Dasuki was put on trial by late Muhammadu Buhari administration In 2015 on an amended 7-count charge for alleged unlawful possession of firearms and money-laundering .He was granted bail by the court in 2017 after two years in custody and he is expected to open his defense in the charges.

At the last sitting a witness of the federal government, Monsur Mohammed claimed that upon the arrest of the former NSA, his houses in Abuja, Kaduna and Sokoto were searched for firearms and money.

The witness who was led in evidence by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Oladipupo Okpeseyi claimed to be exhibits keeper with the Department of the State Security DSS.

At Dasuki s House at 46, Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro, he listed two Compact Disc of Freedom Radio on Jokolo, two GT Bank Cheque books, two blackberries phones, Nokia phone, flash drive, Apple Laptop and statement of account as part of items found in the house.

Others are Visa card, approval letter of a radio station granted to Afri-Media Integrated Ltd, one CD on arrest and execution of Mohammed Yusuf, 500 US Dollars, 533 Saudi Riyadh, Data page on Abubakar Dasuki Ibrahim, HSBC account book of Abubakar Dasuki Ibrahim, and Cheque book of Habibson Ltd of Abubakar Dasuki Ibrahim.

The items were admitted as exhibits as MSD 015 to 034 by Justice Lifu following no objection by Dasuki’s lawyer, Ahmed Usman.

He added that at the defendant another house in Sabo Birni, in Sokoto State, that 150,000 United States America Dollars and N37. 6M were recovered in the house and subsequently deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria., the witness said.

The federal government lawyer said he would ask the DSS to bring the cash to court to be tendered as exhibits.

At the Sultan Abubakar Road, Sokoto house, the witness told the court that no incriminating items was found.

At this point during the prosecution, the federal government counsel applied for an adjournment to enable him bring before the court other items found in Dasuki’s house during the four search warrants executed in the houses.

Justice Lifu while granting the adjournment request, directed the federal government to be ready to close its case against the defendant and for Dasuki to open his defense.

The judge subsequently fixed September 24, 25 and 26 as return dates for continuation .