Court Mandates FG to Conclude Dasuki’s Prosecution by September

A Federal High Court in Abuja has set September 24, 25, and 26 as final dates for the Federal Government to conclude its decade-long prosecution of former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, over alleged unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the deadline on Monday, directing the prosecution to call any remaining witnesses and tender all outstanding exhibits before closing its case.

Dasuki, first arraigned in 2015 on a seven-count amended charge, is expected to open his defence once the government wraps up its presentation.

At the last hearing, prosecution witness Monsur Mohammed, an exhibits keeper with the Department of State Services (DSS), testified that various items were recovered during searches of Dasuki’s residences in Abuja, Kaduna, and Sokoto following his arrest.

From his Abuja home at 46 Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro, the witness listed items including GT Bank chequebooks, mobile phones, laptops, a flash drive, foreign currencies, a radio station approval letter, and other documents. The court admitted these as Exhibits MSD 015 to 034 without objection from Dasuki’s lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Usman.

The DSS also recovered $150,000 from Dasuki’s Sabo Birni residence in Sokoto, which was deposited at the Central Bank of Nigeria. No items were found at his Sultan Abubakar Road property.

Prosecution counsel Mr. Oladipupo Okpeseyi (SAN) sought an adjournment to enable the DSS to produce additional exhibits, including the recovered cash, for tendering.

Granting the request, Justice Lifu warned that the prosecution must be ready to close its case on the next adjourned dates to allow the defence to begin.

This case, which has lingered for 10 years, is among the most high-profile legal proceedings in Nigeria’s recent political history.