The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 14, 2025, for the delivery of its judgment on a key application by the Department of State Services (DSS) seeking permission to re‑tender evidence in the long‑running trial of Sambo Dasuki (retd.), former National Security Adviser (NSA),
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, fixed the ruling date after Oladipupo Okpeseyi (SAN), lead counsel for the DSS, sought the court’s permission to re-tender exhibits in the ongoing trial involving alleged unlawful possession of firearms.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Okpeseyi made an oral request for the court to sit temporarily at the DSS headquarters in Abuja to inspect vehicles allegedly recovered from Dasuki’s residence during a 2015 search.
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He told the court the vehicles had been at the DSS facility for about 10 years and should be inspected for possible admission as exhibits.
In response to the request, the judge asked for clarification on the nature of the items to be inspected. Okpeseyi explained that the vehicles correspond to items 18 to 28 on the search warrant executed at Dasuki’s Abuja home.
When reminded that the court had already marked the exhibits as rejected, Okpeseyi argued that he had the right to present them again, claiming they were initially rejected due to procedural errors—not because they lacked relevance.
Citing legal authorities, he said the proper foundation for their admission had now been laid and urged the court to reconsider the exhibits.
Opposing the motion, Dasuki’s lawyer, A.A. Usman, described the application as unknown to the law. He argued that once a court rejects an exhibit, it cannot be re-admitted by the same court.
He referenced an earlier ruling by Justice Lifu, which found the exhibits irrelevant to the charge and inadmissible. Usman submitted that the DSS should have approached the Court of Appeal rather than asking the same judge to revisit the issue.
He urged the court to dismiss the application, calling it legally baseless and an attempt to reopen a settled matter.
After hearing both sides, Justice Lifu adjourned the matter to October 14 for ruling and continuation of the trial.
Earlier, the second prosecution witness, Musa Duniyor, a DSS operative, testified that he was involved in executing two search warrants at Dasuki’s residences in July 2015. He listed several items recovered, including a bank statement, a flash drive, and the 11 vehicles in dispute.
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It was during his testimony that Okpeseyi requested that the court inspect the vehicles at the DSS headquarters.
Dasuki’s trial, which began under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, involves a seven-count amended charge bordering on illegal firearms possession and money laundering.
