The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission re-arraigned former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki and three others before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over alleged N33.2 billion fraud on Tuesday, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
The anti-graft agency charged Dasuki, along with Aminu Baba-Kusa, former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and two companies, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
Their re-arraignment before Justice Charles Agbaza comes after the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, reassigned the case, which was previously under his handling.
They face a 32-count charge of alleged criminal breach of trust and dishonest release of public funds.
Dasuki’s initial arraignment took place on December 14, 2015, before Justice Baba-Yusuf, where he faced a 19-count charge related to an alleged N15.5 billion fraud alongside Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Following an amendment to the charges, Salisu’s name was removed, and Dasuki was subsequently re-arraigned on May 11, 2018, on a fresh 32-count charge involving N33.2 billion.
The trial of Dasuki was stalled after the prosecution presented only one witness, the investigating officer, who had not yet concluded his testimony before the case was adjourned indefinitely.
In a separate case, the EFCC charged Dasuki alongside others, including a former Minister of State for Finance and a former Sokoto state governor, with a 25-count charge of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of N19.4 billion.
At the resumed hearing, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 32 counts read to them, and the prosecution counsel requested a trial date.
