for misappropriation, illegally transferring N19bn
The Federal Government has again arraigned the embattled National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, alongside former director of finance office of the National Security Adviser, Shuaibu Salisu, former minister of state finance, Bashir Yuguda, former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa and his son Dalhatu Bafarawa in a 22-count charge.
Arraigning them before Justice Peter Affen of the FCT High Court, the accused were alleged to have at different times, misappropriated, dishonestly entrusted dominion over various properties worth N3.35 billion, N500 million, N100 million, N783 million, N100 million, N400 million, N1.1 billion, N200 million, N1.95 billion, N1.675 billion, N4.633 billion, N5.1 billion, respectively, approximately totalling N19.2 billion.
The defendants however pleaded not guilty to all the charges when it was read to them.
The trial judge however adjourned the case to December 16, 2015, for hearing on the bail application while the defendants were to be remanded at the EFCC custody.
As of the time of filing this report, Dasuki, Salisu and others have been moved to the court of Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the FCT High Court for hearing on the bail application in a separate matter bothering on money laundering charges.
However, the FCT High Court sitting before Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf also adjourned ruling on the bail application filed by Dasuki, to December 18, 2015.
The trial judge in his conclusion, having listened to various submissions and arguments on the bail, ordered the accused persons be remanded in the custody of the EFCC, pending ruling on the application.
The prosecution had objected to the bail application on the grounds that, investigation was still ongoing in the matter, and even if the accused do not jump bail, their release might jeopardise ongoing investigation.
The EFCC had arraigned Dasuki alongside Shuaibu Salisu, Aminu Babakusa, a former general manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited, on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N13, 570,000, 000.00 (Thirteen Billion, Five Hundred and Seventy Million Naira).
