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Tag: dasuki

  • How I received N26m from Dasuki for Fani-Kayode – Police officer

    How I received N26m from Dasuki for Fani-Kayode – Police officer

    A police officer, Mr. Victor Ehiabhi, on Tuesday, narrated to a Federal High Court in Abuja, how he received a cash sum of N26m from the Office of the National Security Adviser on behalf of a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

    Ehiabhi, an Intelligence Operative with the Force Intelligence Bureau, said he was then serving as the ex- minister’s security aide.

    The police officer, who was testifying as the first prosecution witness in Fani-Kayode’s ongoing trial, said he was deployed from the bureau’s Very Important Persons Protection Unit, to serve as the defendant’s security aide.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had on November 11, 2016, arraigned Fani-Kayode on five counts including alleged diversion of N26m, which he allegedly received from the then NSA, Sambo Dasuki, to pay for an unspecified contract.

    The EFCC accused the ex-minister of receiving the N26m from the Office of the NSA while he was the Director of Media and Publicity for the Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation.

    The EFCC also accused the former minister of transacting with the said N26m without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act.

    Led by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Johnson Ojogbane, Ehiabhi said on Tuesday that he received the money from NSA office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in company with the domestic staff of Fani-Kayode, while the ex-minister was out of town.

    He said the cash was loaded into a small bag.

    The witness said, “On November 21, 2014, on that fateful day, my principal travelled out of town and he detailed me to be within town.

    “The gardener and other domestic staff were also around within the premises. The house is at Aso Drive Abuja.

    “One of the gardeners, called Francis, called me on phone and told me that the defendant had called him on phone that I should accompany him (Francis) and another domestic staff, Esther, to the National Security Adviser’s office at the Villa.

    “And not too long after, the defendant himself called me and told me the same thing.

    “The driver named Kenneth was directed to drive us to the venue.

    “We moved to the venue at Suleiman Barawo Street in the Villa.

    “While at the venue, the driver, Kenneth, and the gardener, Francis, were asked to stay in the compound while I and Esther walked into the building.

    “We identified ourselves as personnel of the defendant.

    “The staff in the office asked who was Victor. I answered I was the one.

    “They asked me to tender my identity card and I did.

    “The man in the office brought out a paper and asked me to endorse it on behalf of the defendant.

    “The sum of the N26m was written on the document for the defendant.

    “I initially decided not to endorse the document on behalf of the defendant.

    “But the man in the office insisted that since I was the policeman I should be the one to endorse the document, so I signed it.

    “The man in the office brought out the sum of N26m in N1,000 denominations, and put it in one ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag. He gave it to us, Esther and I, for the defendant.

    “We took it out of the office and beckoned on Francis and Kenneth to take it to the booth.

    “So we departed from the house and departed to house of the defendant with the money.

    “On getting to the house, we took it inside the house.

    As of the time the money was taken to the house, the defendant had not returned. As I said earlier he had travelled out of town.”

    He said on Fani-Kayode’s return, the former minister invited him and others involved in moving the money home and thanked them.

    He said, “The defendant had called me on phone and told me to ensure maximum security within the house until his arrival.

    “On the same day, at about 11 pm, the defendant returned. When the defendant returned from his journey, he acknowledged the money and he sent for us, myself, Esther and thanked us.

    “Subsequently I was invited by the EFCC. On getting to the office of the EFCC, I was asked if I ever worked with the defendant and I said yes.

    “While answering the question, the personnel brought out the document that I signed at the Office of the National Security Adviser on November 21, 2014.

    “There and then I was made to write a statement. I did.”

    Fani-Kayode was represented by his counsel, Mr. Wale Balogun, who sought an adjournment of case for cross-examination.

    Justice Tsoho however fixed June 6 for cross-examination of the witness.

  • Buhari punishing Dasuki for loyalty to Jonathan – Umar

    A former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Col. Dangiwa Umar (retd.), has said that the continuous detention of the immediate past National Security Adviser, NSA Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan by the Federal Government is uncalled for.

    Umar, who is also the Chairman, Movement for Unity and Progress, said the only reason for Dasuki’s continuing detention was loyal to Jonathan, who he described as the most maligned President of Nigeria.

    The former military governor was quoted as making the comment in a statement circulated by an Abuja-based public relations outfit, the PR Nigeria, on Sunday.

    He called on Nigerians to speak against the detention of the former NSA, which he described as unjust and unfair.

    Umar stated, “The only explanation one can find for Col. Dasuki’s lengthy detention without trial is that he belongs to the wrong camp. He has also the misfortune of having served as National Security Adviser to the much-vilified Nigerian President of Ijaw extraction.

    “Colonel Dasuki’s fate is tied to that of his former principal, President Goodluck Jonathan, an honourable and patriotic Nigerian, who conceded defeat and congratulated the winner of the 2015 Presidential election, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, even before INEC declared the final results, when he could have held on tenaciously to power as is the norm in many Third World Countries.

    “This rare act of statesmanship, which pulled the country back from the precipice, has been rewarded with utmost disrespect and derision by the All Progressives Congress Federal Government.

    “Col. Dasuki is paying dearly for his loyal service to this patriot. All well-meaning Nigerians must speak out against his unfair and unlawful treatment. We cannot afford to remain neutral in the face of this monumental injustice.

    “When one Nigerian is unlawfully detained, all of us must have the moral consciousness to feel psychologically incarcerated.”

    Umar described the suspension and investigation of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ayodele Oke, as a departure from the unlawful detention of opposition figures in the country.

    “There is national unanimity in support of the war against corruption which is expected to be non-discriminatory and waged by a meticulous adherence to the rule of law. For the war to be meaningful and sustainable, it must be elevated beyond President Buhari’s personal struggle to a national one,” he added

    Umar noted that the Federal Government had ignored the orders of courts, including the ECOWAS court, to grant bail to Dasuki on the grounds that the ex-NSA’s offence was grievous.

  • Judge orders EFCC to retract statement on Dasuki’s aide, suspends trial

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja has insisted that the trial of Colonel Nicholas Ashinze, a former Aide to Colonel Sambo Dasuki and 7 others in alleged N1.5bn fraud would not be resumed until the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) retracts fully the misrepresentation of the court’s proceedings that the defendants are being tried on N36.8bn fraud.

    The EFCC also wrongly referred to the aide of Dasuki as a retired military officer while Nicholas Ashinze is currently a serving Army Colonel.

    The judge dismissed the oral claim by the counsel to EFCC, Mr Ofem Uket that the anti-graft agency had retracted the offending publication because the lawyer failed to produce any document or evidence before the court to ascertain its claim.

    Justice Kolawole had last adjourned date March 21, 2017, warned EFCC to stop media trial of Nigerians being put on prosecution for any offence and ordered that the alleged N36bn fraud contained in the EFCC Press Statement issued by one Mr. Wilson Uwujare must be retracted.

    The Judge also ordered the news media involved in the alleged offending publication to appear before it and show cause why they should not be disciplined for misrepresenting the court’s proceedings by dishing out falsehood to the general public through the EFCC press statement.

    When the matter was to resume Thursday, counsel to EFCC informed Justice Kolawole that his client had already retracted the offending press statement as contained in some national dailies of April 12, 2017 but however failed to present a copy of the retraction to the court as required by law.

    Uket therefore urged the court to resume the trial of the defendant on the ground that the court order issued against EFCC had fully been complied with.

    However, Mr. Ernest Nwoye, Counsel to Colonel Ashinze stood his ground that the EFCC had not in any ways obeyed and respected the court order on the ground that EFCC has not shown any evidence or placed any document before the court as a prove of compliance.

    The counsel argued that since the court order on the retraction was in writing and duly served on the EFCC, the anti-graft agency must show respect to the court by filing necessary papers and attaching necessary document to show the compliance to the order of the court.

    In the absence of any documentary evidence, Nwoye urged the court not to attach any seriousness to the oral evidence of the prosecution counsel.

    Counsels to other defendants in the matter including the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Paul Irokoro (SAN) aligned themselves with the submissions of Nwoye and urged Justice Kolawole to sustain the order for the retraction until the evidence of compliance with the order has been shown.

    In his ruling Justice Kolowale disagreed with the oral evidence of the EFCC Counsel, lamenting that the counsel as a minister in the temple of justice has not shown any seriousness or do enough to protect the integrity of the judiciary from being unjustly rubbished.

    The judge said that “No responsible judge will sit down and allow his court to be rubbished with falsehood as in the case of the EFCC that has been engaging in feeding the general public with falsehood

    “It is a fact that the defendants in criminal matter will be prejudiced when they are unjustly subjected to media trial through publication of falsehood and misrepresentation of the court’s proceeding.

    “Since the court cannot act in vain, it is hereby ordered that the EFCC must show compliance in the appropriate way with the retraction of the offending press statement it issued out in respect of the proceeding of this court.

    “It is hereby also ordered that the Deputy registrar, litigation must liase with Deputy Sheriff and ensured that the order of March 21, 2017 is served on the Editor-in-chief or the appropriate person in the Vanguard Newspaper to ensure that the Editor and his correspondent in Abuja responsible for the publication (of March 8, 201) to appear before this court on May 4, 2017 to show cause where they got their story on the N36.8bn fraud published.

    “Let it be understood that the press has the fourth Estate of the realm has the responsibility of holding all arms of government accountable to general public but the press has no business in misrepresenting the court so that the defendant in criminal matters would not be prejudiced and would not be found guilty though false media trial before the real court trial.”

    Justice Kolawole said that his order of March 21, shall be in force until it has been fully complied with.

    It would be recalled that based on lawyers’ complaints, the judge stopped the trial of Colonel Nicholas Ashinze and others in the alleged diversion of N1.5bn brought against them by the Federal Government.

    The action of the Judge followed a Press Statement issued by EFCC that Colonel Ashinze is being prosecuted on alleged N36bn fraud and which was widely reported on March 8, 2017 by some national dailies.

    Justice Kolawole held that deliberate misrepresentation of court proceeding as done by EFCC through its press release was in bad taste and would always prejudice the defendants because the public would be made to have different perception of the real trial in court.

     

  • EFCC bows to court order, apologises to Dasuki’s aide over demeaning press statement

    EFCC bows to court order, apologises to Dasuki’s aide over demeaning press statement

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday bowed to an order of a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged falsehood and media trial engaged by the anti-graft agency against a military officer, Colonel Nicholas Ashinze.

    Ashinze was Military Assistant to former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    Justice Kolawole had ordered the EFCC to apologize to Ashinze over a statement which “degraded” the officer as well as portrayed him as guilty in an alleged N36bn fraud.

    At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, EFCC begged the court and the defendant, Ashinze.

    EFCC claimed that “the error in figure was a mix-up in the body of the release as the headline reflected the correct information.

    “The reference to Ashinze as retired is regretted. We have since discovered that he is a serving Colonel in the Nigerian Army”.

    Counsel to Ashinze, Mr. Ernest Nwoye, had an hearing on March 21 protested the press statement issued by EFCC in which the defendant was reported to have been indicted by the court for diverting and misappropriating a whopping sum of N36billion.

    Apart from the alleged N36bn said to have been diverted and misappropriated, the EFCC statement also referred to serving Colonel Ashinze as a retired officer.

    The counsel who drew the attention of Justice Gabriel Kolawole to the offending EFCC press statement, tendered the statement and the newspaper publications at the court to establish bias and misrepresentation of the court proceeding of March 7, 2017 by the anti-graft agency.

    Nwoye told the Judge that Colonel Ashinze was never charged by EFCC for any offence on N36billion diversion and misappropriation and wondered where EFCC Media team, that was not present in the court, got its proceeding that the defendant had been indicted for the amount.

    The counsel urged the court to condemn Media Trial the defendant is being subjected to as such action if not checked, will lead to misrepresentation of facts by the general public.

    Nwoye also tendered newspaper publications that emanated from the EFCC press statement issued by Wilson Uwujaren, Head of Media and Publicity in the EFCC.

    Justice Kolawole who was taken aback by the EFCC’s press statement asked the EFCC counsel, Mr. Ofem Uket if he was aware of the press statement and if he ever issued any.

    The EFCC counsel denied ever granting press interview in respect of the trial but admitted receiving letter of complaint from Nwoye and that he consulted with EFCC and discovered that the Press Statement was actually released to the media.

    Uket, in his defence said that contrary to the charge of N3billion alleged transfer, evidence from witnesses have shown that about N5billion was involved.

    However, Justice Kolawole who was not impressed by the argument of the EFCC’s counsel told him that the proceeding would have to stop pending the time the EFCC would put its house in order by stopping to mislead the public on court proceedings.

    Justice Kolawole in a short ruling on the protest from Barrister Nwoye said that “It is unfair for EFCC as a complainant in this trial to resort to self-help by engaging the defendant in the media trial at the same time in the court trial.

    His words: “If you want to try the defendant in the media, you have to limit yourself to the media. You have to stop misleading the public in the fact of this trial.

    “Let me say it for the sake of emphasis that EFCC must stop the use of journalists to distort proceedings in my court. You cannot be engaging in two trial: one in the court and one in the media at the same time.

    “If you are not satisfied with my decision to stop this trial pending the time the EFCC retract this offending press statement of my court proceeding, then you can take your case to another court

    “This press statement by one Wilson Uwujaren who claimed to be from EFCC is scandalous and prejudice to fair trial of the defendant in this matter.

    “In order to prevent media and court trial at the same time with one misrepresenting the order, I have stopped this trial pending the time the EFCC retracts the offending press statement.

    “The trial of the defendant has nothing to do with N36billion diversion and misappropriation.

    “The retraction has to be done between now and April 13, 2017. And this EFCC witness is hereby ordered to step down from the witness box and come back on April 13, 2017

    “The court proper proceeding cannot materialise where records and facts of the case are being distorted by EFCC that is even the complainant in the matter.”

  • FG re-arraigns Dasuki, insists on secret trial

    The Federal Government on Thursday notified the Federal High Court Abuja of an application pending before it seeking protection for witnesses billed to testify in the trial of former National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki.

    Counsel to the Federal Government, Mr Oladipo Okpeseyi brought this to the notice of the court when Dasuki was re-arraigned before Justice Ahmed Mohammed on a seven-count amended charge.

    In the amended charge, Dasuki was accused of being in possession of prohibited firearms without requisite licence in July 2015, contrary to Section 28 of the Firearms Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    He was specifically alleged to have been in possession of five tervor rifles at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja.

    Besides the firearms, Dasuki was also accused of money laundering and was specifically said to have been in possession of $40,000, N5million and €20,000, allegedly found in his house in July.

    According to the charge, the money was said to be proceeds of an unlawful act contrary to Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

    The amended charge also indicated that $150,000 and another N37 million, being proceeds of an unlawful act was also found in his Sokoto residence in July 2015.

    Dasuki pleaded not guilty to all the seven counts.

    Okpeseyi informed the court of his readiness for trial and that he had a motion pending before the court to seek protection for witnesses billed to testify against Dasuki.

    He also told the court that since the amended charge bore the same number with the previous charge, the court should exercise its order on the bail earlier granted the defendant by allowing him to continue to enjoy bail.

    Earlier, Dasuki’s counsel, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN) urged the court to allow the defendant enjoy the bail conditions earlier granted him.

    Raji, however, opposed the motion for witness protection which he said was filed since June 3, 2016 on the grounds that the motion was predicated on the old charge.

    He informed the court that the prosecution had on Jan. 23 filed an application on the same issue and wondered why the prosecution chose to “dance backward” to the motion of 2016 instead of going ahead with that of 2017.

    He, however, urged the court to give him time to peruse the counter-affidavit filed by his client against the 2016 motion to enable him respond appropriately as required by law.

    Justice Mohammed affirmed the bail conditions granted Dasuki in the amended charges of unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering.

    The judge said that since the prosecuting counsel did not oppose the application, Dasuki should continue to enjoy bail on the conditions granted him in 2015 when he was first arraigned for the same offence.

    He adjourned the matter until May 11 to hear the application for secret trial.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Dasuki was in 2015 admitted to bail by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, but the bail order was not obeyed by the Federal Government.

    Dasuki has since then been kept in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Justice Ademola in 2015 dismissed the application for secret trial.

    He dismissed it on the grounds that the prosecution had already filed the names and addresses of all the witnesses in the trial and had made same available to the general public.

     

     

    NAN

  • $2.1bn arms probe: Court admits EFCC document in evidence against Dasuki

    An FCT High Court, on Wednesday admitted in evidence document tended by EFCC in the allegation of diversion of $2.1bn arms funds made against Retired Col. Sambo Dasuki.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser, NSA to ex- President Goodluck Jonathan, was arraigned on a 19-count charge.

    He is being tried alongside Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, and Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former NNPC Executive Director.

    Two firms, Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital limited are also being tried.

    The trial judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, admitted in evidence some documents, which the first prosecution witness, Mr Michael Adariku sought to tender through the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

    Baba-Yusuf overruled submissions by all the defence counsel and admitted the documents, and adjourned the matter till March 16 for continuation of hearing.

    Earlier, Mr Michael Adariku, an official of EFCC and first prosecution witness, told the court that on September 2015, he received a report on Dasuki, alleging abuse of his office and Money Laundering.

    He said letters were sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regarding the account of NSA domiciled with CBN, adding that on Sept. 22, the apex bank responded.

    He said the analysis showed movement of funds to various companies, which included Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital limited in UBA, ECO and First Banks.

    “N600 million and N650 million were paid into Acacia accounts with UBA and ECO bank respectively, while N750 million was in Reliance and First Bank.

    “We wrote to these banks to furnish us with the account statements and responses were received from them.

    “When we analysed the responses, we found out that the funds were from the office of NSA account domiciled in CBN.

    “From the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), we also got a response, which was analysed and found out that the 3rd defendant, Aminu Kusa was the principal shareholder of the companies.

    “We invited him and others to our office and confronted them with those responses and they volunteered statements,’’ he said.

    The prosecuting counsel had sought to tender the documents, but that was objected by the defence counsel.

    The defence counsel specifically objected to the admissibility of the documents from CAC, and account statements from UBA, ECO and First Banks.

    Their argument was that the documents were not duly certified and did not comply with the Provisions of Sections 104 and 84 of the Evidence Act.

    The prosecuting counsel had argued that the laws guiding the operations of banking allowed those documents to be admitted.

    At the resumed hearing earlier, Mr Ahmed Raji, Daski’s counsel had informed the court that he had application for consolidation of the two cases.

    “In regard to the situation in the two matters, we are filing a motion for consolidation of the two set of charges.

    “And with all due sense of responsibility, we urge your lordship to consider this application, which we believe will help in the effective management’’.

    He said that they waited till now to allow for the re-arraignment, which held on Tuesday.

    “Now the coast is cleared, other defence counsel aligned’’.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Mr Solomon Umoh (SAN), counsel to the 3rd defendant, said that because it was in line with history as a matter of fact, the whole exercise was to ensure that the two cases were properly managed.

    Jacobs urged the court to recall the antecedent “that brought us to this stage of transfer and consolidation’’.

    “We agreed to transfer the two matters to one court and handle them separately, that was our understanding.

    “But now, they are coming out with this application, this is 2015 case and we have not commenced trial.

    “For us to progress, let us continue with what we have agreed.’’

    He reminded the court that justice was not only for the defendants.

    Jacobs said that the case should be allowed to start, alleging that there was a mind-set not to allow the case to go on.

    Raji informed the court that this motion had been there, but only needed to be fine tuned.

    He said the application was previously filed on May 31, praying for the consolidation and transfer and was already pending and have not be cleared.

    Umoh, said that the reaction from Rotimi was that of fear that the case would drag.

    He wished for a measure of progress on the matter if there could be a way to look at it , including the three lawyers.

  • $2.1bn Arms Deal: Court reaffirms Dasuki’s bail grant

    $2.1bn Arms Deal: Court reaffirms Dasuki’s bail grant

    Justice Baba Yusuf of an Abuja High Court has again reaffirmed the bail earlier granted former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Justice Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court had recently granted the former NSA bail. However, the Federal Government is yet to honour the bail.

    The matter was transferred to the Justice Yusuf-led court who reaffirmed the bail of Dasuki and five others standing trial on a 22-count charge bordering on the misappropriation of $2.1bn arms deal.

    At the resumed trial on Tuesday (today), the trial judge said Dasuki was entitled to bail after he was admitted to same since 2015.

    All defendants pleaded not guilty to the 22-count charge levelled against them.

    However, following their non-guilty plea, counsel to the former NSA, Ahmed Raji prayed the court to reaffirm Dasuki’s bail.

    Raji stated that Dasuki was admitted to bail before the Department of State Services, DSS, illegally arrested and detained him.

    He argued that since the matter was transferred from Justice Affen to Justice Yusuf, the DSS has been separated from the matter, adding that the court record indicated that Dasuki is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

    Raji contended that it was wrong of the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, to have objected to the reaffirmation of the bail condition on Dasuki.

    Jacobs who had earlier told the court that he had no objection to the affirmation of the bail earlier granted to five other defendants in the trial, however urged the judge not to make any pronouncement or order in respect of Dasuki’s bail.

    “Court must not act in vain, there is no point making an order in vain. Dasuki has been in the custody of the DSS since 2015 and is still there till today, ”Jacobs said.

    Ruling on the matter, Justice Yusuf said it would be in the interest of justice to reaffirm Dasuki’s bail irrespective of the action of the security agencies.

    The judge consequently adjourned the matter to February 24, 2016.

  • Metuh asks court to summon Dasuki as witness in N400m fraud case

    A former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to summon former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, to testify in his trial.

    At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Counsel to Metuh, Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN), reminded the judge, Justice Okon Abang, of a pending subpoena before the court to invite Dasuki as the next witness.

    Abang, however, advised that both the defence and prosecuting counsel liaise with the authority holding Dasuki to release him to appear in court.

    He said that it was only after the defence and prosecution had approached the relevant authority and the authority refused to release Dasuki to them that they should come back to him.

    Counsel to the second defendant Tochukwukwu Onwugbufor (SAN) however said it was the duty of the court to issue a subpoena to anyone to appear in court.

    The defence team filed the subpoena on Dec. 2, 2016.

    It was premised on the grounds that since the allegation against Metuh revolved around Dasuki, it was important for Dasuki to be a witness in the matter.

    Meanwhile, following the stalling of the case on Tuesday due to the ill-health of Metuh, the defence, at today’s sitting presented a medical report from the National Hospital with details of his health condition.

    The defence team told the court that Metuh was unable to appear in court because he was admitted at the National Hospital for complications arising from spinal cord injuries.

    Etiaba said that the medical experts handling the defendant’s ailment were unable to give the specific date for his full recovery due to the nature of the ailment.

    He asked the court for a three-week adjournment for the defendant to recuperate and also seek further medical attention.

    Onwugbufor, for his part, told the court that he had seen the medical report and that he was suffering the same ailment as the defendant.

    He said he was able to get the right medical care only in London, and urged the court to look at the defendant’s case with compassion since his condition was even more critical than his.

    According to him, what Metuh is suffering is excruciating and requires expert attention to ensure full recovery.

    Prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, said that he was not opposed to an adjournment, adding that the prosecution sympathised with the defence and wished the defendant quick recovery.

    “We have been served with the medical report of the defendant and we have little or nothing to say since the record speaks for itself. All we can say is that we extend our sympathy to the defence.

    “With regards to the request for a three-week adjournment, we are taking them by their word since the medical report did not give an indication about how soon the defendant will be discharged.

    “It only says his management will continue until he gets well and I am not opposed to the adjournment,’’ Tahir said.

    Abang adjourned continuation of hearing in the matter till Feb. 21 and Feb. 24.

  • Dasuki’s trial adjourned till 2017

    The absence of Salisu Shuaibu, the 2nd defendant and former Director of Finance and Account (DFA) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) stalled proceedings in Sambo Dasuki’s case at FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

    Dasuki, former NSA to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was arraigned before Justice Baba-Yusuf by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on diversion of about N13.6 billion.

    He is being tried alongside Shuaibu Salisu, former DFA in the NSA Office, together with

    Aminu Baba-Kusa, former NNPC Executive Director.

    Also tried were two firms — Acacia Holding Ltd. and Reliance Referral Hospital Ltd.

    At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, the prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, said he had been served with the medical report of the 2nd defendant confirming that he (Salisu Shuaibu) had been hospitalised.

    Atolagbe also told the court that the trial could not proceed in the absence of the second defendant and therefore applied for a short adjournment pending the recovery of the defendant.

    Shuaibu’s Counsel, Mr Adetayo Adeyemo, also apologised to the court that his client could not be in court because of illness.

    He told Justice Baba-Yusuf that the medical report of his client had already been made available to the court, the prosecution and other parties in the trial.

    Counsel to other defendants did not object to the application for an adjournment.

    Thereafter, Justice Baba-Yusuf noted that since the charge was filed, the second defendant had always been in court and for that reason, the court is obliged to grant the request for the adjournment.

    He then adjourned trial until Jan. 25.

    Meanwhile, the second charge referred from Justice Peter Affen to Justice Baba-Yusuf was similarly adjourned until Jan. 24 for re-arraignment.

    Salisu Shuaibu is the 3rddefendant in that matter also.

    In the matter before Justice Peter Affen, Dauski is the second defendant, while Amb. Bashir Yuguda is the first defendant.

    Others are Dalhatu Investment Ltd., Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Bafaarawa, former governor of Sokoto State.

    They were arraigned on a 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy, bribery and abuse of office and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N28,315 million.