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Tag: dasuki

  • $2.1b arms cash: FG files 14 fresh charges against Dasuki, Secondus, Anenih, others

    The Federal Government has amended the $2.1 billion arms funds diversion charge against former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) and others.

    In the amended charge, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Uche Secondus, former Chairman Board of Trustees PDP Tony Anenih; former PDP spokesperson Olisa Metuh; Publisher of Thisday, Nduka Obaigbena; ex-Senate President Iyorchia Ayu and founder, DAAR Communications Raymond Dokpesi were listed as beneficiary of the fraud.

    Also listed are Mouftah Baba-Ahmed, Bello Abba Mohammed, Dr. Bello Mohammed, AVM M. N Umar and Otunba Jonah Ogunniyi, among others.

    Apart from individuals, corporate organisations were also named as beneficiaries in the amended charge.

    They are AMP Solar Service, Afro-Arab Investment, Bam Project and Projecties Limited, Bob Oshodin Organisation Limited, WEHSAC Farms Limited, Wehsac Limited, Dimaris Mode Coolture Limited, First ARALAC Global Limited, Stellavera Development Limited, Jawaz Multi-purpose Venture Limited, Little Italy Global Services Limited, Belsha Nigeria Ltd and Syvan McNamara Limited among others.

    The amended charge was filed at the Abuja Federal High Court, where the old one is pending.

    The amended charge of 32 count will replace the earlier 18-counts filed against the defendants about three years ago.

    Another amendment of the earlier charge is the removal of a former Director of Finance and Supply in the ONSA, Salisu Shuaib (who served while Dasuki was NSA) as a defendant in the case.

    The amended charge dated April 30, 2018 was signed by Mr. Chile Okoroma, Director of Legal Services with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The prosecution did not give any reason yesterday why it amended the charge and why the alteration was effected.

    The earlier charge filed in 2015 had Dasuki, Shuaib, Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited as defendants.

    The amended charge, sighted yesterday, now has Dasuki, Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

    Justice Baba-Yusuf has adjourned to May 17, for the re-arraignment of the defendants on the amended charge.

    At the beginning of proceedings yesterday, lead prosecution lawyer Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) informed the court about the amendment to the charge and urged the court to accept it.

    Jacobs said: “We have served them (the defendants) the additional documents and we have also filed an amended charge dated and filed April 30, 2018.

    “I urge my Lord to accept the amended charge and allow it”.

    Jacobs told the court that “one of the reasons for allowing it is that it tends to remove the second defendant and also there are additional counts to make them 32 counts”.

    Lawyer to Dasuki, Ahmed Raji (SAN), confirmed the receipt of the amended charge.

    He urged the court to graciously avail the first defendant more time to enable them study the additional counts.

    Raji said: “I confirm that around 5:30pm on Monday, my office was served. Yesterday, there was no work. So, this morning, my attention was brought to it.

    “I have not had the privilege of discussing the content with the first defendant. I scantily went through it and discovered that the counts are now almost double,” Raji said.

     

  • Secondus collected N250m from Dasuki for ‘special duties’ — EFCC

    …provide evidences that I receive such money, Secondus fires back at EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, allegedly received N250m from the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of the embattled former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.)

    This was revealed in a report released by the anti-graft agency.

    The report stated that Secondus allegedly received the money during the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

    Secondus, who was the Deputy Chairman (South) of the PDP at the time, allegedly collected the money for ‘special duties.’

    The report partly read, “Uche Secondus received N200m in cash from the ONSA with voucher 0244. His Special Adviser, one Chukwurah, signed for the money on his behalf on February 2, 2015. Earlier, he had collected N50m which was personally received by him on November 7, 2014.

    “The funds were approved by Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) for unknown reasons but were merely referred to as ‘special duties.’”

    The report also accused Secondus and erstwhile Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, as well as the lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, Senator Bassey Akpan, of receiving vehicles worth about N1.1bn from Babajide Omokore, an oil magnate standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    According to the report, the vehicles which ranged from Mercedes Benz luxury cars to campaign buses and trucks were bought with the proceeds of fraud.

    The report added, “Adamu Mu’azu received vehicles worth N504, 500, 000 including a Benz G63 worth N45m between May and August 2014.

    “Secondus received vehicles worth N310m. On June 28, 2013, he received a Benz G63 worth N36m; on April 8, 2014, he received two Toyota Hilux vehicles worth N14m. On July 8, 2014, he received 10 Hiace buses worth N90m while on November 13, 2014, he received 15 Hiace mid-roof buses worth N120m. He also received a N50m Range Rover Biography SUV.”

    The report accused Senator Bassey Akpan of receiving vehicles worth N303m from Omokore while he was the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance as well as the Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee whose job was to ensure that government projects were completed using direct labour approach to save some money for the state.

    Two of Omokore’s companies – Bay Atlantic Energy and Sahel Energy – were said to have received contracts from the committee headed by Akpan.

    The report added, “Senator Bassey Akpan received a BMW X5 BP worth N50m; an Infinity QX56BP worth N45m; a Range Rover worth N40m; three Toyota Hiace buses worth N27m; two Toyota Hiace High-roof buses worth N16m, six Toyota Hilux D cabin vehicles worth N42m as well as other vehicles worth N83m.

    “He received the vehicles from Omokore while heading a committee which was giving contracts to the same Omokore.

    “He has been invited on several occasions but he has refused to show up. He was supposed to come to the EFCC office on Monday (yesterday) but he refused to come.”

    But Secondus has described the claim by the anti-graft agency as a blackmail and a continuation of what he described as media trial.

    He said there were plans to blackmail and discredit the main opposition party and its leadership.

    He however said the plan would not work.

    Secondus, who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Ike Abonyi, asked the agency or anyone with proof of the allegations to come to court.

    Abonyi said, “Secondus is already in court on this matter and that is all. It is a continuation of media trial and blackmail.

    “He has said he did not collect any money and he had challenged anyone with contrary proof to meet him in court and testify against him.

    “There’s no need to be talking about a case pending in court in the newspapers. If the government has anything to say, they should file it before the court as demanded.”

    Also speaking, Secondus told one of our correspondents that he knew that the government would not stop at anything to tarnish his image.

    But he said that the move would fail.

    He challenged the government to come out with the vouchers with which he was said to have signed, adding that such signature would also be subjected to forensic analysis.

    He said, “I never collected any money from anywhere. I didn’t ask anyone to collect money for me as well and I didn’t sign any voucher to collect any money.

    “It is pure blackmail which will never work. I have gone to court and I expect them to challenge me in court and come and testify against me.

    “If they are cooking up anything, with the aim of blackmailing me, it will fail. I know that the task of uprooting this non-performing government would be horrendous. But God is always on the side of the people.”

     

  • Prolonged detention: Dasuki sues DSS, AGF for ‘rights violation’

    Former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki has sued the State Security Service (SSS), its Director General Lawal Daura and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami over his continued detention.

    Dasuki has been in the custody of the SSS since December 29, 2015. The Community Court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in a judgment delivered on October 4, 2016 declared his detention unlawful and ordered his release.

    In a fundamental rights enforcement suit marked filed on March 15 before the Federal High Court, Abuja, Dasuki is praying the court to order his unconditional release.

    He is also praying the court to award in his favour, and against the respondents, N5billion as “general damages and compensation” for the alleged violation of his rights.

    The ex-NSA wants the court to order the respondents to the suit to tender public apology to him in two widely published newspapers for allegedly violating his rights “as enshrined under Sections 34(1), 35(1), (4) & (5), 37 & 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)”.

    Dasuki also wants the court to declare that the applicant is entitled to the dignity of his person, personal liberty, freedom of movement, private and family life as enshrined under Sections 34(1), 35(1), (4) & (5), 37 & 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

    “A declaration that the continued detention of the applicant, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), by the operatives of the 2nd respondent under the instruction and direction of the 1st respondent (Daura) since Tuesday December 29, 2015 till date violates his fundamental rights under Sections 34(1), 35(1), (4) & (5), 37 & 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Article 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and is therefore unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null and void.

    The suit has been assigned to Justice Ahmed Mohammed , but no date has been scheduled for hearing.

     

  • Corruption: Lai Mohammed lied; I never collected a dime from Dasuki – Secondus

    …Threatens court action against Lai Mohammed

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Uche Secondus, has challenged the Minister of Culture and Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed to be ready to prove his allegation that the he collected N200m from the purse of the National Security Adviser (NSA).


    Secondus gave the threat in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr Ike Abonyi, on Friday in Abuja.


    He said that his attention was drawn to a press conference addressed by Mohammed on March 30 in Lagos claiming that he (Secondus) collected N200m from the office of the former NSA.


    The PDP leader is challenging Mohammed to be ready to establish his allegations in court immediately.


    Secondus said that the agenda of the minister was to damage his reputation and distract him from serving PDP, adding that such agenda would fail woefully “For the purposes of some gullible public, Prince Secondus never collected any money from the NSA under any guise.


    Also listed at the news conference by Mohammed were former PDP Financial Secretary who allegedly collected N600 million from the same source on the Oct. 24, 2014.


    “Then National Publicity Secretary Olisah Metuh, who is on trial for collecting N1.4 billion from the office of then NSA.


    “Dr Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications, on trial for taking N2.1 billion from the office of then NSA.


    “Former SSA to President Jonathan, Dudafa Waripamo-Owei, on trial over N830 million kept in accounts of four different companies.


    “Former President Jonathan’s Cousin Robert Azibaol, – on Thursday, a Federal High Court ruled that he has a case to answer for collecting $40 million from the office of then NSA,”

    Mohammed also listed as part of the response to an earlier challenge by the PDP asking the federal to name the country’s looters.


    Also, the PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary described the teasing list released by the Federal Government as hollow and laughable.

     

     

     

  • Alleged N13.6bn diversion: Court adjourns Dasuki ‘s case till March 22

    An FCT High Court, on Wednesday adjourned until March 22, continuation of hearing in the case involving former National Security Adviser, retired Col Sambo Dasuki, pending outcome of judgment of the Supreme Court on his appeal.

    The judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, adjourned the case after Dasuki’s counsel Mr Adeola Adedipe, holding the brief of Mr Joesph Daudu (SAN) applied for adjournment.

    Adedipe informed the court that Dasuki’s matter is pending at the apex court and the outcome of the judgment on March 2, may affect the case pending in the trial court.

    He also expressed surprise that Dasuki was not in court.

    Responding, Mr Henry Ajiga, holding the brief of Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), who did not oppose the application, prayed the court to adjourn it to the same day with a sister case.

    He also expressed surprise on Dasuki ‘s absence, adding that the date for hearing was transmitted to the agency holding him.

    Dasuki is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of N13.6 billion.

    On trial along with Dasuki were Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, and Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former NNPC Executive Director, and two others.

  • $2.1b fraud: Court suspends hearing on Dasuki’s trial

    The Federal Capital Territory High Court has suspended the trial of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, pending the decision of the Supreme Court on an application filed by him.

    Dasuki’s lawyer informed the court on Thursday that a pending application at the highest court, which is expected to be determined on March 2, would have adverse effect on the matter before the lower court.

    According to the lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, the application at the Supreme Court seeks to ensure government’s compliance with previous court decisions granting bail to the defendant.

    Dasuki is asking the Supreme Court to stop his ongoing trial on the grounds that the prosecution lacks the ‘moral standing’ to try him (Dasuki) in the same court of law which ”issued earlier decisions yet to be obeyed by the government.”

    Adedipe asked the court to allow his application for an adjournment pending the Supreme Court’s decision, ”in the interest of justice.”

    In his reaction, however, the counsel to the prosecution, Atolagbe Olowaleke, asked the court to disregard the application.

    Olowaleke said the request made by the defence was belated since a similar application has been overruled by the court.

    In a ruling, the trial judge, Hussein Baba-Yusuf, however, agreed with Mr. Dasuki’s lawyer that proceeding with the matter would hamper the course of justice.

    The judge adjourned the matter till March, 22.

    Dasuki, whose trial began in 2015, has remained in detention since the beginning of the legal process.

    He is facing various charges for alleged diversion of $2.1 billion while he served as the NSA.

    Despite repeated court decisions granting bail to the former NSA, the government has refused to release him.

  • Jonathan, Dasuki absent as Metuh’s trial resumes

    Jonathan, Dasuki absent as Metuh’s trial resumes

    The trial of the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh on Tuesday recommenced at the Federal High Court, as a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki refused to appear.

    The case continued despite the absence of former President Goodluck Jonathan who had also been invited as a witness.

    The prosecuting counsel Sylvanus Tahir informed the court that despite the fact that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wrote to the DSS to produce Dasuki in court, the legal adviser of the DSS informed him that Dasuki refused to appear on grounds that his legal team told him not to.

    Meanwhile, the federal government’s case against a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, has been adjourned to November 4.

  • Metuh: Court strikes out Dasuki’s application against summon

    Metuh: Court strikes out Dasuki’s application against summon

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out an application by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, seeking an order setting aside the subpoena directing him to appear in court to testify on behalf of a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh.

    The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, ruled that having been ordered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on September 29, 2017, he lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine the motion on merit.

    He held that determining the motion on merit would amount to an attempt to review the judgment of a higher court, the Court of Appeal.

    He held that all issues raised by Dasuki, through his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), had become academic since the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the complaints.

    According to the judge, it would amount to “judicial anarchy” to hear Dasuki’s application on merit.

    “If the applicant(Dasuki) is dissatisfied, he should know what to do and where to go, but certainly not this court,” the judge ruled.

    But Dasuki, despite the subpoena issued on him upon Metuh’s application directing the Department of State Service to produce the detainee, is absent from court on Wednesday.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan also ordered by the court to appear in court upon an application by Metuh was also absent.

    But a court registrar confirmed to the judge on Wednesday that Jonathan had yet to be served with the subpoena by the court bailiff as of Tuesday.

    But the Department of State Service in whose custody Dasuki is detained has yet to produce the ex-NSA in court.

    The judge had announced in court on Tuesday that he had, on Monday, issued a subpoena to be served on Jonathan.

    But the judge, who fixed Wednesday (today) for his ruling on Dasuki’s motion, had ordered that both the ex-NSA and Jonathan must appear in court on Wednesday (today).

    The two men were summoned by the court upon an application by Metuh requesting that they be ordered to testify in his defence with respect to the sum of N400m which he was said to have received fraudulently from the Office of the NSA in 2014.

  • Jonathan, Dasuki absent in court as Metuh trial resumes

    Jonathan, Dasuki absent in court as Metuh trial resumes

    The Wednesday hearing in the trial of a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, has resumed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, but former President Goodluck Jonathan and the detained ex-National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, ordered by the court to appear, are absent.

    Jonathan’s absence from court could be because of inability of the court bailiff to serve him with the court’s subpoena on Tuesday, it was learnt.

    But the Department of State Service in whose custody Dasuki is detained has yet to produce the ex-NSA in court.
    The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang had announced in court on Tuesday that he had, on Monday, issued a subpoena to be served on Jonathan.

    But a court registrar told the judge during the Tuesday’s proceedings that the court bailiff had yet to serve the former President with the subpoena.

    Also on Tuesday, the judge heard an application filed by Dasuki praying for an order setting setting aside the subpoena issued on him.

    But the judge, who fixed Wednesday (today) for his ruling on Dasuki’s motion, had ordered that both the ex-NSA must appear in court today.

    The two men were summoned by the court upon an application by Metuh requesting that they be ordered to testify in his defence with respect to the sum of N400m which he was said to have received fraudulently from the Office of the NSA in 2014.

    The court is now delivering ruling on Dasuki’s motion.

  • Dasukigate: Former President, Goodluck Jonathan to appear in court today

    Dasukigate: Former President, Goodluck Jonathan to appear in court today

    Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed yesterday the order of subpoena compelling former President Goodluck Jonathan and a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to appear in court today with respect to the trial of the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh.

    however, challenging the subpoena summoning him to appear in court today [Wednesday], Dasuki, through his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), told the court on Tuesday that it would be self-incriminating for him if he was made to testify in the case.

    Justice Abang, after hearing Raji as well as the prosecution and the defence, both of whom opposed Dasuki’s application on Tuesday, fixed Wednesday for ruling.

    But the judge insisted that despite Dasuki’s opposition to the motion, he (the ex-NSA) and Jonathan must appear in court on Wednesday.

    The judge ruled, “The outcome of the ruling will determine which step to take about the first subpoena (the one issue on Dasuki), but the orders compelling His Excellency, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), to appear in court on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at the instance of the first defendant (Metuh) still stand.”

    Justice Abang had issued separate subpoenas on Jonathan and Dasuki upon applications by Metuh, who had requested the two men to testify in his defence in his ongoing trial.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, on seven counts of money laundering involving alleged cash transaction of $2m and fraudulent receipt of N400m meant for procurement of arms from the Office of the NSA.

    The prosecution alleged in the charges that Metuh and his firm used the N400m for the PDP’s campaign activities during the 2015 presidential election.

    The sum of N400m was alleged to be “part of the proceeds of unlawful activities” of the immediate past NSA, Dasuki.

    So far, most of the defence witnesses, including Mr. Ben Nwosu, who ended his testimony earlier on Monday, had insisted that the sum of N400m paid to the ex-spokesperson for the PDP from the Office of the NSA in November 2014, the money being part of the case against Metuh, was directly authorised by Jonathan.

    The defence legal team had insisted that given the roles which Jonathan and Dasuki played in the N400m transaction, both men were needed as witnesses in the case.

    Justice Abang, during the resumed hearing on Tuesday confirmed The PUNCH’s exclusive story published on Tuesday that he (the judge) had, in his chambers after the Monday’s proceedings, signed the subpoena to be served on Jonathan.

    Confirming the issuance of the subpoena, Justice Abang said on Tuesday that he received Metuh’s application for the summons to be served on the ex-President at about 3.59pm on Monday.

    The judge said, “Indeed, at the close of business yesterday (Monday) being October 23, 2017 precisely at about 3.59pm, the registrar forwarded to the court in chamber a subpoena to compel former President Goodluck Jonathan to appear in court to testify at the instance of the first defendant (Metuh).

    “Therefore, in line with Section 241(1) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, and having regard to the subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal in the appeal, CA/A/159C/2017, between Olisa Metuh and the Federal Republic of Nigeria dated September 29, 2017 to the effect that it will be tantamount to violating the right of the first defendant (Metuh) to fair hearing not to sign the subpoena, I have no option but to sign a subpoena to compel former President Goodluck Jonathan to appear in court on October 25, 2017 (Wednesday) to give evidence at the instance of the first defendant.”

    But while being interrogated by the judge on Tuesday, a registrar of the court said the bailiff of the court had yet to serve the subpoena on Jonathan as of Tuesday morning.

    The court official said the bailiff could not be reached after the judge signed the subpoena late on Monday.

    He said the bailiff had therefore promised to pick up the subpoena for service on Jonathan on Tuesday.