The trial of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), for the second time in a week, at a
Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Maitama, for an alleged N13.5
billion fraud, could not go on as expected, as the former National
Security Adviser, NSA, was again absent in court, May 17, 2017.
Sambo Dasuki, along with Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director
of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser,
ONSA; Aminu Babakusa, a former General Manager, Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation; Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral
Hospital Limited are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 19-count charge bordering on money
laundering and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N13,570,000,000.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, had at the last sitting of May
16, 2017, told Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, that “I’m surprised he’s not
here”.
Counsel to Dasuki, J.B. Daudu, SAN, had also expressed concerns about
the absence of his client “who though has been granted bail by the court
has not been allowed by the DSS to have control over his movement”.
Daudu had along with Akin Olujinmi, SAN counsel to Salisu, who was
present with Babakusa, urged the court to adjourn to May 17, 2017 and
compel the prosecution to present him. At the resumed hearing today,
however, Jacobs informed the court that his frantic efforts to ensure
that Dasuki was present, proved abortive.
“Yesterday, I promised he’ll be brought to court today, and I
immediately contacted the director, legal department of DSS, who told me
that Dasuki’s absence in court yesterday was an oversight and that the
defendant will be produced this morning. I made series of efforts when I
noticed he was not in court this morning to contact the director, but
was unable to reach him, and I immediately contacted my client, the
EFCC, who also approached the DSS. The information I received is that
the first defendant will not come to court today on the grounds that
he’s indisposed.”
Jacobs, thus requested for an adjournment.
While not opposing the application for adjournment, Daudu, noted that
“this appears to be an inter-agency issue”, and urged the court to
“place on record that we’re not trying to frustrate this trial as
adjournment is at instance of the prosecution”.
Olujinmi, who aligned with Daudu, added that “it is the prosecution that
has not allowed the trial to proceed”, adding that the excuse of
“oversight” on the part of the DSS, “without an apology was irritating”.
“Your lordship should direct that those keeping him in custody should
ensure they’re alive to their responsibility to the court,” Olujinmi
added.
While adjourning to July 11 and 12, 2017 “for continuation of hearing”,
Justice Baba-Yusuf, held that “the proceedings of the court should not
be taken lightly, and strains between agencies should not be allowed to
interfere with proceedings”, adding “the prosecution counsel, whom I
know is passionate with his work should be allowed to do his job”.