Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Federal Government to wrap up its decade-long prosecution of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), by September 26, 2025.
The judge fixed September 24, 25, and 26 for the prosecution to call its remaining witnesses, tender all outstanding exhibits, and close its case against Dasuki, who faces charges of unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering. The retired military officer, who has been on trial since 2015 under the defunct Muhammadu Buhari administration, is expected to open his defence immediately after the prosecution rests its case.
At the last sitting, prosecution witness Monsur Mohammed — an exhibits keeper with the Department of State Services (DSS) — told the court that operatives searched Dasuki’s residences in Abuja, Kaduna, and Sokoto following his arrest. From his Abuja home at 46 Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro, the DSS allegedly recovered items including two compact discs of Freedom Radio on Jokolo, cheque books, mobile phones, a flash drive, an Apple laptop, a bank statement, a Visa card, an approval letter for a radio station owned by Afri-Media Integrated Ltd, a CD on the arrest and execution of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf, $500, 533 Saudi Riyals, an HSBC account book, and a Habibson Ltd chequebook. These were admitted in evidence as exhibits MSD 015 to MSD 034 without objection from the defence counsel, Ahmed Usman.
Mohammed further testified that a search of Dasuki’s Sabo Birni residence in Sokoto yielded $150,000 and ₦37.6 million, which were deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria. The prosecution said it would request the DSS to bring the cash to court as exhibits. However, a search at another property on Sultan Abubakar Road, Sokoto, produced no items.
Prosecuting counsel Oladipupo Okpeseyi (SAN) sought an adjournment to present other items recovered during the execution of four search warrants on Dasuki’s properties. Granting the request, Justice Lifu warned that the Federal Government must be fully prepared to conclude its case at the next sittings, after which the defence will open its case.
By PRNigeria
