– FG claims Dasuki is plotting to scuttle his trial by needless application
– Dasuki asks court to quash all the charges against him
– Case adjourned to February 8
The federal government has accused former national security adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki of plotting to frustrate his ongoing trial before a High Court in Abuja.
Dasuki is facing a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust.
Dasuki who is facing a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust has in an application urged the court to among others, restrain the prosecution from proceeding with the trial or quash all the charges against him.
According to the Nation, the former NSA argued that the prosecution could no longer proceed with the case having allegedly flouted the court’s order by breaching his right to prepare for his defence by re-arresting him after the court granted him bail.
However, the prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) in counter – affidavit on Thursday, February 4 argued that the application by Dasuki is an attempt to frustrate proceedings in the case.
He argued against Dasuki’s claim that the prosecution has flouted the court’s order, stating that in an affidavit supporting his application, Dasuki admitted that he was released from Kuje Prison after he met the bail condition.
Jacobs contended that it was out of place for Dasuki to admit that he was released from prison based on the bail granted him and now turn around to accuse the prosecution of disobeying the court’s order granting him bail.
Jacobs noted that it was the Department of State Services (DSS) that rearrested Dasuki in respect of separate allegations of criminality, noting that the order for bail made by the court on December 18 last year did not restrain other security agencies from further arresting him in relation to separate offences.
He said: It is the EFCC that is prosecuting this case. The DSS has a separate case against him before the Federal High Court. If he has anything against DSS for re-arresting him, he should go before the FHC.
“This application is intended to delay the trial here. The application is an abuse of court process.
“They admitted in their affidavit that he was released from Kuje prison. By their admission, the order was obeyed. There is no other of this court that has been breached as they alleged.
“That order granting bail to the applicant (Dasuki) did not confer immunity on him against further arrest.”
After listening to arguments on both sides, the trial judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf upheld the prosecution’s arguments that there was no cogent reason adduced by the four lawyers to warrant an adjournment.
The case was adjourned to February 8 for ruling.
Meanwhile, recent reports have it that that two sons of the former minister Babajide and Gbolahan Obanikoro, are on the radar of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after about N4.75billion was traced from the office of former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki to a company, Sylvan McNamara Limited, in which the two men have interest.
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