The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned former National Security Adviser(NSA) retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, alongside three others over allegations of N33.2 billion fraud. The case was heard on Tuesday at the Abuja High Court before Justice Charles Agbaza.
Dasuki was arraigned alongside Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and two companies—Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited. The re-arraignment follows the reassignment of the case by the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, who previously presided over the matter.
Dasuki’s legal troubles date back to December 14, 2015, when he was first arraigned alongside Shuaibu Salisu, former Director of Finance and Administration at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on a 19-count charge involving alleged N15.5 billion fraud. The charges were later amended, and Salisu’s name was removed.
The EFCC had also filed a separate case against Dasuki in 2015, charging him alongside former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda, former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, his son Sagir Bafarawa, and Dalhatu Investment Limited. This case, involving N19.4 billion in alleged misappropriation of public funds, was later transferred to Justice Yusuf Halilu.
Both cases have faced delays, partly due to the Department of State Services (DSS) refusing to release Dasuki on bail.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Dasuki and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to the 32-count charges. Prosecution counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe requested trial dates, while defense lawyers A.A. Usman and Richard Ibiye urged the court to allow the defendants to continue enjoying their existing bail terms. They assured the court that their clients had consistently attended hearings.
Justice Agbaza granted the request for bail continuation and adjourned the trial to July 1, 2025.
The Dasuki trial stands out as one of Nigeria’s most high-profile corruption cases, tied to the alleged diversion of defense funds meant to combat the Boko Haram insurgency. The case is being prosecuted under the Criminal Code Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, both of which criminalize the misuse of public funds.
One of the major hurdles in this case has been the repeated delays, caused by multiple adjournments, re-arraignments, and Dasuki’s prolonged detention by the Department of State Services (DSS), despite court orders for his release. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 was designed to prevent such delays, but high-profile corruption trials like this one often face significant setbacks.
If found guilty, the defendants could face harsh penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and the forfeiture of assets under Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws. This case also underscores the critical need for transparency and accountability in government spending, particularly in areas as sensitive as national security and defense.
With the trial now scheduled to resume on July 1, the focus will be on whether the prosecution can present compelling evidence to secure convictions or if the defense can successfully challenge the charges. The outcome will serve as a key indicator of Nigeria’s commitment to tackling corruption under the current administration.
