The Federal Government has
filed a 32 amended counts charge against the former National Security Adviser,
Col. Sambo Dasuki and three others, in the alleged diversion of $2.1billion
arms funds.
Dasuki, Salisu Shuaibu, and
three others, were arraigned in 2015. They pleaded not guilty when the charges
were read to them before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the Federal Capital
Territory High Court, Maitama. The prosecution’s inability to produce the
former NSA boss in court for trial, had consistently stalled the proceedings.
The amended charges dated
April 30, 2018, and signed by Mr. Chile Okoroma, Director of Legal Services
with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), named some
politicians from opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as
beneficiaries of the alleged diverted funds.
However, in the amended
charge sheet, a defendant, and a former Director of Finance and Supply in the
ONSA who worked under Dasuki, Salisu Shuaib,was not mentioned.
Reacting to the
development, the lead counsel to Dasuki, Mr. Ahmed Raji, (SAN) said he did not
know the deal between Salisu Shuaib, the Federal Government and EFCC on the new
twist.
He, however, said that
subsequent events in the trial will reveal to the defendants and their counsel
all the circumstances leading to the dropping of the core accused, adding that
“till then, we will keep our fingers crossed.”
Apart from Dasuki, other
defendants in the amended charge are Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holding Limited
and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
Among top Nigerians alleged
by the Federal Government to have collected money from the former NSA are the
current National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, former Chairman Board
of Trustee PDP, Chief Tony Anenih; former PDP Spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh;
Publisher of Thisday, Nduka Obaigbena; Senator Iyorchia Ayu; Chairman, AIT, Dr.
Raymond Dokpesi; Mouftah Baba Ahmed; Bello Abba Mohammed; Dr. Bello Mohammed;
AVM M. N Umar and Otunba Jonah Ogunniyi, among others.
Apart from individuals,
corporate organizations were also named as beneficiaries in the new charges;
and they include AMP Solar Service, Afro-Arab Investment, Bam Project and
Projecties Limited, Bob Oshodin Organization Limited, WEHSAC Farms Limited,
Wehsac Limited, Dimaris Mode Coolture Limited, First ARALAC Global Limited,
Stellavera Development Limited, Jawaz Multi-purpose Venture Limited, Little
Italy Global Services Limited, Belsha Nigeria Ltd and Syvan McNamara Limited
among others.
They were subsequently
admitted to bail. However, Colonel Dasuki was re-arrested after perfecting the
bail conditions on December 29, 2015, and had been in the custody of the
Department of State Services (DSS) without filing any other charge against him.
The defendants are expected
to take a fresh plea on the amended charges May 17.
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