The trial of the immediate past National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki(rtd) was on Tuesday stalled as the Federal Government failed to produce him before a Federal Capital Territory High Court over corruption charges leveled against him.
Despite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting its witness before the Justice Baba Yusuf-led court, the trial could not continue as the former NSA failed to appear before the court following the failure of the Department of State Security, DSS, to release him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Dasuki alongside former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, Shuaibu Salisu, and former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Executive Director, Aminu Baba-Kusa, were arraigned for diversion of N13.6 billion meant for purchase arms.
Counsel to the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, informed the court that the DSS had failed to release Dasuki despite efforts through the EFCC to ensure that the defendant was in court.
However, Counsel to Shuaib, Akin Olujimi, SAN, told the court that the prosecution had failed to produce the defendant in court and ought to admit that and ask for adjournment.
Olujimi, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice argued that the matter cannot go on in the absence of Dasuki, thereby asking for an adjournment to allow the prosecution produce Dasuki in court on the adjourned date.
After listening to counsels in the matter, Justice Baba Yusuf adjourned the matter till May 23, 2016.
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