Arms Deal: Court Adjourns Ruling On Dasuki’s Bail Application, To Remain In EFCC Custody

Sambo DasukiA High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, trying a former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, and others for alleged money laundering and criminal breach of trust, has adjourned ruling on his bail application till Friday.

The former NSA was arraigned before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf alongside Shu’aibu Salisu, a former director of finance in the office of the NSA; Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former Group General Manager of NNPC; Acacia Holdings Ltd and Reliance Hospital Ltd on 19 count charges of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust in respect of funds for arms/equipment purchase in the account of the NSA, which was allegedly diverted to other purposes valued at over N13.570 billion.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

After over two hours of arguments and counter-arguments from defence counsel Ahmed Raji (SAN) and counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), Justice Yusuf adjourned bail ruling to Friday.

He ordered the accused persons to be remanded in EFCC custody.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has obtained leave to arraign a former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa and his son Sagir Attahiru; former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; and Dalhatu Investment Ltd, in a separate 22 counts charge.

Dasuki and Salisu are also part of the new charge.

In his ruling yesterday, Justice Peter Affen held that there was prima facie evidence to warrant the charges.

He, therefore, ordered the EFCC to produce the accused persons in court today.