Federal-Government-of-Nigeria

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), was again stalled yesterday following the failure of the Federal Government to produce him in court on time Dasuki is facing alleged money laundering and breach of trust charge brought against him and others since last year.
He was brought by the Department of State Services (DSS) about 30 minutes after the court had adjourned his matter.
Dasuki, who was charged along with five others before Justice Peter Affen of the High Court of FCT, was granted bail when he was first arraigned. He was, however, re-arrested and had been kept in DSS custody since last December.
Others standing trial with him in the matter include a former Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, ex-Finance Minister of State, Bashir Yuguda; a former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, his son, Sagir and a firm, Dalhatu Investment.
When the case came up yesterday, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the judge that he was surprised that Dasuki who was the second defendant, was not brought to court.
Jacobs said he notified the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the trial and the need to produce Dasuki in court, but regretted that the communication gap between the EFCC and DSS was responsible for his non-production.
He applied to Justice Affen to stand down the case to enable his client  produce Dasuki in court. But he could not give a definite time within which the EFCC would produce the ex-NSA in court.
The action sparked off reactions from Chief Olajide Ayodele (SAN), counsel to Yuguda, who opposed Jacobs’ request for a stand down because the request if granted, would not serve any useful purpose.
The senior counsel said the failure of the prosecution to give a definite time within which Dasuki can be brought to court by either EFCC or DSS was an indication that he has no knowledge of what was transpiring between two agencies on the matter.
His position was adopted by Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), who stood for Dasuki and regretted that the government which put the ex-NSA on trial, was the one scuttling the trial.
Daudu said since June 2016 when the matter was adjourned for today, the EFCC which initiated the trial on behalf of the Federal Government ought to have known that it has responsibility to produce Dasuki in court as required by the law.
Ruling on the stand down application, Justice Affen agreed that it would be unfair to stand down the case without a definite time for Dasuki to be produced in court.