The high-profile trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), took a new turn on Thursday as the Federal Government sought to present additional evidence before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Dasuki, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, is facing an amended seven-count charge bordering on money laundering and illegal possession of firearms.
According to the prosecution, on July 17, 2015, operatives discovered various firearms and cash sums of $40,000, N5 million, and $20,000 at his Asokoro residence. A day earlier, at his Sokoto residences, security agents allegedly found $150,000 and N37.6 million, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.
At Thursday’s sitting, prosecution counsel Oladipupo Okpeseyi (SAN) urged the court to accept fresh proof of evidence and grant permission for the court to sit at the DSS headquarters, to inspect a vehicle allegedly seized from Dasuki’s home in 2015. He insisted that a proper foundation had now been laid to admit exhibits earlier rejected.
However, defence counsel A.A. Usman opposed the move, stressing that the exhibits had already been marked rejected by the court and could not be re-tendered. He described the prosecution’s application as “baseless, ill-conceived, and an abuse of court process.”
After hearing both arguments, trial judge Justice Peter Lifu adjourned the matter until October 14 for ruling.
Earlier, the second prosecution witness, Musa Duniyor, a DSS operative, testified that he was part of the team that searched Dasuki’s Abuja residences in July 2015, where several bank statements, flash drives, vehicles, and other items were recovered.
Dasuki, who maintains his not guilty plea, is also standing trial in two other money laundering cases before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
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