N13.5bn arms scam : Judge berates Dasuki’s counsel

N13.5bn arms scam : Judge berates Dasuki’s counsel

Monday, June 6, 2016 5:43 pm


Sambo Dasuki

Sambo Dasuki

Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday, June 6, 2016 told off the counsel to a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dazuki (retd.), J.B. Daudu, SAN, over his attempt to further stall the trial of Dasuki and four others.

Dasuki( first defendant) alongside Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser; Aminu Babakusa, a former General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, 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).

Daudu, who was represented by Adeola Adedipe at the last adjourned date, May 23, 2016, had urged the court to adjourn the trial of his client sine die on the grounds that the prosecution had frustrated the order of the court given on April 6, 2016 to provide adequate facility for him to be briefed by his client.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Baba-Yusuf had consequently ordered that the first defendant be brought to the court premises during business hours between Monday and Friday to allow him brief his counsel.

However, at the resumed hearing today, Daudu told the court that he was not ready to proceed with the trial.

He told the court that he had filed a motion asking that the prosecution consolidate the charges involving the first defendant before Justice Baba-Yusuf and Justice Peter Afem of the FCT High Court.

According to him, ‘‘It is unconstitutional to try the defendant over a similar matter before two different FCT High Courts.’’

Counsels to the other defendants also acknowledged receipt of the motion, but did not object to the commencement of the trial today.

However, in his reaction, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, stated that it was not right for the court to hear the motion.

Jacobs, who also confirmed receipt of the motion by the counsel to the first defendant, said: ‘‘There are other parties in the other suit that are put on notice. Those parties have not shown up (in court today) or served the motion. In fact, there is no date on the motion indicating when the other parties in the other suit should appear before your Lordship, even if they have been served. Their absence is understandable.’’

Quoting Section 396, Sub-section 1 and 2 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Jacobs said counsel to the first defendant could file the motion, but the court would only decide on it at the end of the trial.


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