Dasukigate: Court adjourns Ex-Gov. Bafarawa, son trial to Feb. 15
Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of an Abuja High Court in Maitama, on Wednesday adjourned further trial of former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, his son, Sagir Attahiru and their firm, Dalhatu Investment Limited over $2.1billion fraud to February 15, 2018.
Bafarawa, his son, Sagir Attahiru and their firm, Dalhatu Investment Limited and former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) are jointly facing the trial.
But Bafarawa, his son, Sagir Attahiru and their firm, Dalhatu Investment Limited, brought an application that they should be tried separately from Dasuki to ensure speedy trial. But, the application was refused by Justice Baba-Yusuf on October 19, 2017.
Dissatisfied, the defendants’ legal team led by Kayode Olatoke (SAN), proceeded to the Court of Appeal urging it to order the trial court to separate the case.
Olatoke argued that, “the applicants’ trial if separated from Dasuki’s would guarantee their constitutional rights to a speedy trial within reasonable time in line with Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution”.
In response, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through its lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), maintained its objection to the application.
According to Jacobs, “Bafarawa, his son and their family company, Dalhatu Investment Limited, were properly joined with Dasuki, Bashiru Yuguda and Shuaibu Salisu for their roles in the diversion of $2.1billion arms funds”.
He stated that Dalhatu Investment owned by Bafarawa and his son was the receiver of the alleged stolen funds. The application also failed at the appellate court.
Still not satisfied, the defendants, at the Supreme Court obtained an order to stay the proceedings while still seeking to separate the trial.
At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, Jacobs drew the attention of the trial judge to the effect that, “the Supreme Court, had withdrawn the application for stay of proceedings and has compelled the trial court to adjourn till when judgment which was reserved for February 2, 2018 is delivered”.
The matter has been adjourned till February 15, 2018.
