The Federal Government has re-arraigned former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd.), and two companies over an alleged N33.2 billion fraud.
Dasuki and his co-defendants appeared before Justice Charles Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Tuesday, facing a 32-count charge related to criminal breach of trust and mismanagement of public funds.
The defendants include former NNPC General Manager, Aminu Baba-Kusa, alongside Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited. Their re-arraignment follows the reassignment of the case by the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, who had previously handled the matter.
Dasuki was first arraigned on December 14, 2015, alongside Shuaibu Salisu, former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on a 19-count charge involving N15.5 billion fraud. The charges were later amended, removing Salisu’s name.
On May 11, 2018, Dasuki and the others were re-arraigned on a fresh 32-count charge involving N33.2 billion, but the trial stalled after the prosecution presented only one witness, who had yet to complete his testimony before the case was indefinitely adjourned.
In 2015, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also filed separate charges against Dasuki, former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda, ex-Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, his son, Sagir Bafarawa, and Dalhatu Investment Limited. They were accused of a N19.4 billion fraud in a 25-count charge related to criminal breach of trust and misappropriation. This case was recently transferred to Justice Yusuf Halilu.
Both trials faced repeated delays due to the Department of State Services (DSS) refusing to release Dasuki on bail, despite multiple court rulings in his favor.
At Tuesday’s re-arraignment, Dasuki and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to all 32 charges.
Defense counsels, A. A. Usman (representing Dasuki) and Richard Ibiye (representing Baba-Kusa), urged the court to allow their clients to remain on the existing bail previously granted, assuring their commitment to attending trial.
The prosecution did not oppose the request but emphasized the need for the defendants’ continued presence throughout the proceedings.
In a brief ruling, Justice Agbaza ruled that the defendants could remain on existing bail conditions and adjourned the trial to July 1, 2025.
