The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has opposed the bail
applications filed by the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col.
Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and two others before a Federal Capital Territory
High Court in Maitama, Abuja, where they were on Monday arraigned on 19
counts of misappropriation of about N32bn meant for the purchase of
arms.
The
prosecution, led by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), in separate
counter-affidavits to the bail applications, said the accused persons
could abscond if granted bail by the court.
Those
arraigned along with Dasuki, before Justice Yusuf Baba on Monday, are a
former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA,
Shuaibu Salisu, and Aminu Baba-Kusa.
Aminu-Kusa’s two firms – Acacia Holdings Ltd and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited – are also part of the accused.
The
accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the 19 counts involving the
misappropriation of about N32bn when the charges were read to them on
Monday.
Baba-Kusa pleaded not guilty for himself and on behalf of his two firms.
Dasuki was
represented by his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), who is also defending
him in his trial of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms,
instituted against him before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
While Salisu was represented by Mr. A.U. Mustapha, Baba-Kusa was represented by Ms. Umahani Ali.
The judge adjourned till 12pm on Tuesday for the hearing of the accused persons’ bail applications.
In the
counter-affidavit, filed by the EFCC against Dasuki’s application,
sighted by our correspondent on Monday, the prosecution stated that “the
severity of the punishment upon conviction, which awaits the applicant,
is an incentive for him to jump bail.”
The
prosecution also opposed his bail application on the grounds that as “a
former military officer and a former NSA,” Dasuki had the power to
influence witnesses and in effect frustrate his trial.
It added
that the accused person was still under investigation for more
allegations against him and currently facing other criminal charges
before the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court.
The accused persons were led away by the EFCC operatives, who produced them in court earlier in the day.
There is
also facing another set of charges involving Dasuki, Salisu, a former
Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; a former Governor of
Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir Attahiru, and their
firm, Dalhatu Investment.
Justice
Peter Affe of the same FCT High Court in Maitama, where the case against
them was filed, on Monday, granted the EFCC leave to prefer the charges
against the accused persons.
The second
set of charges involves 22 counts of misappropriation of about
N13.651bn meant for the purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram in the
North-East.
The accused were said to have misappropriated a total of N13.651bn between August, 2013 and May 7, 2015.
In the 19
charges on which Dasuki and others were arraigned on Monday, the EFCC
alleged that a former Special Assistant, Domestic Affairs to
ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Warimpamowei Dudafa, was on the run
for his involvement in the release of N10bn from the NSA office to the
Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primary delegates.
They were
accused of misappropriating about N32bn between January 13, 2013 and
April 17, 2015, amounting to an offence of criminal breach of trust
against the provisions of Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, and Section
17 (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.
They were
also charged with dishonest receipt of stolen property in breach of
sections 97 and 317 of the Penal Code Act as well as receipt of proceeds
of criminal conduct in breach of Section 17(b) of the EFCC Act.
Part of
the charges in the first set are, “That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki,
whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being
the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National
Security Adviser and Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa (now at large), whilst
being Senior Special Assistant, Domestic Affairs to the President, on or
about November 27, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court,
entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: the sum of
N10bn, being part of the funds in the account of the National Security
Adviser with the CBN, the equivalent of which sum you received from the
CBN in foreign currencies to wit: $47m and €5.6m (Euros), committed
criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you
claimed to have distributed same to the Peoples Democratic Party
Presidential Primary Election delegates and you thereby committed an
offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532,
Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you
Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, whilst being National Security Adviser and
Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration
in the Office of the National Security Adviser, between January 22,
2015, and March 19, 2015, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this
Honourable Court, entrusted with dominion over certain properties to
wit: N2,120,000,000, which was in the account of National Security
Adviser with the CBN, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of
the said property by remitting the said sum into the account of DAAR
Investment and Holding Company Limited, controlled by one Dr. Raymond
Dokpesi, for the funding of media activities for the 2015 Presidential
Election Campaign for the PDP.
“That you
Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, whilst being National Security Adviser and
Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration
in the Office of the National Security Adviser, on or about December 12,
2013, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and
in such capacities entrusted with dominion over certain properties to
wit: N90m, which was in the account of the ONSA with Diamond Bank Plc,
committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by
remitting the said sum into the account of Brains and Hammers Limited
for the purchase of 7-bedroomed duplex house at No.11 Mansur Bamalli
Drive (D1064), Apo 1, Abuja.
“That you
Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, whilst being National Security Adviser and
Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration
in the Office of the National Security Adviser, on or about January 28,
2015, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in
such capacities entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit:
N170m, which was in the account of the ONSA with Skye Bank Plc,
committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by
remitting the said sum into the account of Urban Abode Nigeria Limited
for the purchase of 4-bedroomed duplex house at Plot 2562/2643, Platinum
Villa, Asokoro, Abuja, in the name of AVM M.N. Umaru.
“That you
Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, whilst being National Security Adviser and
Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration
in the Office of the National Security Adviser, between October 19, 2014
and April 17, 2015, in Abuja, dishonestly misappropriated certain
property to wit: N1.45bn, belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
which sum was transferred to Acacia Holdings Limited’s bank account,
controlled by one Aminu Baba-Kusa, purporting same to be payment for
organising prayers.
“That you
Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, whilst being National Security Adviser and
Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration
in the Office of the National Security Adviser, on or about April 17,
2015, in Abuja, dishonestly misappropriated certain property to wit:
N750m, belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which sum was
transferred to Reliance Referral Hospital Limited’s bank account in
favour of one Aminu Baba-Kusa, purporting same to be payment for
organising prayers.
Source: Punchng
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