The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser (NSA), and Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), alongside two companies, over allegations of misappropriating ₦33.2 billion in public funds.
The case was heard before Justice Charles Agbaza at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja. The defendants, Dasuki, Baba-Kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited, and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited, are facing a 32-count charge that includes criminal breach of trust and dishonest handling of funds.
During the hearing, the court registrar read out the charges to the defendants, all of whom pleaded not guilty. The prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, requested dates for the trial to commence. Meanwhile, defense lawyers urged the court to allow their clients to continue on their existing bail terms, emphasizing that they have consistently attended court sessions since the case began several years ago.
Justice Agbaza granted the oral application for bail and adjourned the matter to July 1 for trial.
This case is part of a long-running legal battle involving Dasuki, who served as NSA under former President Goodluck Jonathan. The initial charges were filed in December 2015, accusing him and others of mismanaging ₦15.5 billion in public funds. The charges were later amended to reflect a total alleged fraud of ₦33.2 billion after other defendants were removed from the case.
The EFCC has also filed separate cases against Dasuki over alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as NSA. One such case involves accusations of misappropriating ₦19.4 billion alongside former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda. These cases have faced numerous delays and adjournments over the years.
The agency has recently been active in other investigations, including the arraignment of Okorie Sunday over $578,000 allegedly linked to money laundering and the arrest of 133 individuals involved in a Ponzi scheme operation in Abuja.
