Absence of second defendant stalls Dasuki’s trial

Justice H. Baba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, adjourned the trial of a former National Security Adviser, NSA, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) and four others to April 13, 2021.

At the resumed trial today, Obinna Mbata, counsel to the second and third defendants informed the court that the second defendant was absent due to ill-health, and urged the court to grant them an adjournment. “We got confirmation that he contracted COVID-19.  In the absence, we will be praying the indulgence of the court for a date sometime in April, subject to the convenience of the court.”

However, prosecution counsel O A, Atolagbe informed the Court that he had his witnesses in court but lamented the absence of the second defendant.

Counsel to the first and fourth defendants did not object to the application for adjournment.

Thereafter, Justice Baba adjourned the matter till April 13 and 14, 2021, for continuation of trial.

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 32-count charge bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N29, 000,000,000.