Absence of 2nd defendant stalls proceeding, adjourned until Jan. 25

chika ebuzor

December 7, 2016 7:47 PM

Dasuki was arraigned before Justice Baba-Yusuf by the EFCC on a 19-count charge over an alleged N13.6 billion.

Sambo Dasuki in court

The absence of Salisu Shuaibu, the 2nd defendant and former Director of Finance and Account (DFA) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) stalled proceedings in Sambo Dasuki’s case at FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

Dasuki, former NSA to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was arraigned before Justice Baba-Yusuf by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on diversion of about N13.6 billion.

He is being tried alongside Shuaibu Salisu, former DFA in the NSA Office, together with Aminu Baba-Kusa, former NNPC Executive Director.

Also tried were two firms — Acacia Holding Ltd. and Reliance Referral Hospital Ltd.

At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, the prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, said he had been served with the medical report of the 2nd defendant confirming that he (Salisu Shuaibu) had been hospitalised.

Atolagbe also told the court that the trial could not proceed in the absence of the second defendant and therefore applied for a short adjournment pending the recovery of the defendant.

Shuaibu’s Counsel, Mr Adetayo Adeyemo, also apologised to the court that his client could not be in court because of illness.

He told Justice Baba-Yusuf that the medical report of his client had already been made available to the court, the prosecution and other parties in the trial.

Counsel to other defendants did not object to the application for an adjournment.

Thereafter, Justice Baba-Yusuf noted that since the charge was filed, the second defendant had always been in court and for that reason, the court is obliged to grant the request for the adjournment.

He then adjourned trial until Jan. 25.

Meanwhile, the second charge referred from Justice Peter Affen to Justice Baba-Yusuf was similarly adjourned until Jan. 24 for re-arraignment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Salisu Shuaibu is the 3rd defendant in that matter also.

In the matter before Justice Peter Affen, Dauski is the second defendant, while Amb. Bashir Yuguda is the first defendant.

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Others are Dalhatu Investment Ltd., Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Bafaarawa, former governor of Sokoto State.

They were arraigned on a 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy, bribery and abuse of office and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N28,315 million.

chika ebuzor