A former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and three others were re-arraigned on Tuesday before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over allegations of misappropriating ₦33.2 billion in public funds.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the charges against Dasuki, alongside a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa, as well as two companies—Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
The defendants are facing a 32-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and the alleged fraudulent release of public funds. The re-arraignment follows the reassignment of the case to Justice Charles Agbaza by the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, who previously handled the matter.
Dasuki was initially arraigned on December 14, 2015, before Justice Baba-Yusuf on a 19-count charge related to an alleged ₦15.5 billion fraud. The case was later amended, leading to his re-arraignment in 2018 on fresh charges amounting to ₦33.2 billion. However, the trial was delayed after the prosecution presented only one witness before proceedings were indefinitely adjourned.
The EFCC had also filed another case against Dasuki in 2015, where he was charged alongside former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; ex-Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir Bafarawa; and Dalhatu Investment Limited. That case, which involved allegations of misappropriating ₦19.4 billion, was recently transferred to Justice Yusuf Halilu.
Delays in Dasuki’s trials have been attributed to the Department of State Services’ (DSS) refusal to release him on bail despite multiple court orders.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 32 charges read to them. The prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, requested a trial date, while the defense lawyers urged the court to allow the defendants to continue enjoying their existing bail.
Justice Agbaza upheld the request and adjourned the trial to July 1, 2025.
