EFCC re-arraigns Dasuki, three others over N33.2bn arms deal fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), before Justice Charles Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on charges of fraud.
The case was initially heard by Justice Hussain Baba-Yusuf of the FCT High Court but has now been reassigned to Justice Agbaza.
Dasuki was re-arraigned alongside a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa, as well as Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited, on Tuesday.
They are facing a 32-count charge relating to breach of trust and dishonest dealings amounting to N33,200,000,000 (Thirty-three billion, two hundred million naira).
One of the charges reads:
“That you, COL. MOHAMMED SAMBO DASUKI (RTD.), while serving as the National Security Adviser, on or about 27th November 2014 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, were entrusted with control over certain funds, specifically N10,000,000,000 (Ten billion naira), being part of the account of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The equivalent of this sum, which you received from the CBN in foreign currencies—$47,000,000 (Forty-seven million dollars) and 5.6 million euros—was purportedly allocated for special security services. However, you dishonestly disbursed the funds for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential primary election, thereby committing a criminal breach of trust, punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol. 4, LFN 2004.”
Another charge states:
“That you, COL. MOHAMMED SAMBO DASUKI (RTD.), while serving as the National Security Adviser, between 9th October 2014 and 17th April 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated funds amounting to N1,450,000,000 (One billion, four hundred and fifty million naira) belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This sum was transferred to the bank account of ACACIA HOLDINGS LIMITED, controlled by Aminu Baba-Kusa, under the false pretence of payment for organising prayers. By doing so, you committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol. 4, LFN 2004.”
A further count states:
“That you, COL. MOHAMMED SAMBO DASUKI (RTD.), while serving as the National Security Adviser, between 4th April 2014 and 30th November 2014 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, were entrusted with control over N4,685,000,000 (Four billion, six hundred and eighty-five million naira) from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria. You committed a criminal breach of trust by unlawfully transferring the funds into the bank account of SYVAN MCNAMARA LIMITED, falsely claiming that it was for physical security infrastructure. In reality, the sum was used to fund the People’s Democratic Party’s gubernatorial election campaigns in Ekiti and Osun States. This constitutes an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol. 4, LFN 2004.”
All the defendants pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to them. In response, prosecution counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe requested a trial date, while the defence counsel appealed to the court for Dasuki and Baba-Kusa to continue enjoying their existing bail conditions.
The prosecution did not oppose the request but sought assurances that the defendants would remain present in court throughout the trial.
Justice Agbaza adjourned the case until 1st July 2025 for hearing.
