The former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), and three others have been re-arraigned before Justice Charles Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over an alleged N33.2 billion fraud brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Dasuki was arraigned alongside a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Aminu Baba-Kusa, and two companies: Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

The defendants are facing thirty-two counts of charges bordering on alleged fraud.

The re-arraignment of the defendants before the new trial judge followed the reassignment of the case by the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, who was previously presiding over the matter.

Earlier, Dasuki had been arraigned alongside a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser, Shuaibu Salisu, before Justice Baba-Yusuf on December 14, 2015, on a 19-count charge bordering on a N15.5 billion fraud.

The charge was later amended, with Salisu’s name dropped from it.

Subsequently, Dasuki and others were re-arraigned on May 11, 2018, on an amended 32-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, dishonest release, and receipt of various sums amounting to N33.2 billion.

The prosecution had called only one witness, the investigating officer, who was yet to conclude his evidence-in-chief when the case was adjourned indefinitely.

In 2015, the EFCC filed two separate cases against Dasuki before Justice Baba-Yusuf.

In the second suit, Dasuki, named as the second defendant, was charged alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; a former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir Bafarawa; and his company, Dalhatu Investment Limited, on a 25-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds totalling N19.4 billion.

The case has since been transferred to Justice Yusuf Halilu by the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Baba-Yusuf.

Both cases had initially suffered several adjournments due to the Department of State Services’ refusal to release Dasuki on bail, despite court orders granting him bail.

At the resumed sitting, the defendants took their pleas before Justice Agbaza.

They all pleaded not guilty to the thirty-two counts when they were read to them.

The prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, subsequently asked the court for a date to commence the trial.

Dasuki’s lawyer, A.A. Usman, and Baba-Kusa’s lawyer, Richard Ibiye, requested that the defendants be allowed to continue enjoying their existing bail.

The lawyers assured the court that the defendants had never been absent for their court sessions.

The prosecution did not oppose the request but emphasised that the defendants’ continued presence during the trial was paramount.

After hearing from all parties, Justice Agbaza allowed the defendants to remain on their existing bail and adjourned the trial to July 1.