Justice Delayed: Court Sets Fresh Deadline For Dasuki’s Decade-Long Trial

Justice Peter Ode Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has set September 24, 25, and 26 as the dates for the Federal Government to finally conclude its decade-long prosecution of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), on charges of unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The court directed the government to present any remaining witnesses and tender all outstanding exhibits to substantiate its allegations. Dasuki, who has been facing trial since 2015 under the defunct Muhammadu Buhari administration on an amended seven-count charge, is also expected to open his defence on the set dates.

During the last hearing, Federal Government witness Monsur Mohammed — identified as an exhibits keeper with the Department of State Services (DSS) — testified that following Dasuki’s arrest, his residences in Abuja, Kaduna, and Sokoto were searched for weapons and cash.

At Dasuki’s home in Asokoro, Abuja, the witness listed several recovered items, including two Compact Discs of Freedom Radio on Jokolo, GTBank cheque books, two Blackberry phones, a Nokia phone, a flash drive, an Apple laptop, bank statements, a Visa card, an approval letter for a radio station (Afri-Media Integrated Ltd), a CD on the arrest and execution of Mohammed Yusuf, $500, 533 Saudi Riyals, personal data documents, an HSBC account book, and a cheque book of Habibson Ltd. Justice Lifu admitted the items as exhibits MSD 015 to 034, with no objection from Dasuki’s counsel, Ahmed Usman.

At another property in Sabo Birni, Sokoto State, $150,000 and ₦37.6 million were reportedly recovered and deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria. The prosecution signaled its intention to request that the DSS present the cash in court as evidence.

However, no items were found at Dasuki’s residence on Sultan Abubakar Road, Sokoto.

Following this testimony, the prosecution sought an adjournment to produce other items allegedly recovered from Dasuki’s properties under four executed search warrants. Justice Lifu granted the request but ordered that the government be prepared to close its case so Dasuki can proceed with his defence.