EFCC wants to keep ex-NSA in custody to prevent attacks from dead soldiers' relatives

monjola sotubo

December 17, 2015 12:59 PM

The EFCC made the request on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, while opposing Dasuki’s bail application before an Abuja High Court.

Nigeria's former National Security Advisor Mohammed Sambo Dasuki listens to a question after his address at Chatham House in London, January 22, 2015. REUTERS/Andrew Winning

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that it wants to keep former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki in its custody for his own safety.

The EFCC made the request on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, while opposing Dasuki’s bail application before an Abuja High Court.

“It is in the interest of justice to put the applicant in protective custody so as to protect him from a possible attack by the relatives of the innocent soldiers who lost their lives due to lack of adequate equipment and facilities caused by the diversion of the funds meant for that purpose,” EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs said.

“Apart from the cases that are pending against the applicant, he is also being investigated in respect of other criminal allegations. The applicant acquired a large volume of assets with the proceeds of crimes and my team is currently tracing the assets and, if released on bail, the applicant will interfere with the asset tracing activities,” he added.

The case was adjourned to December 21 for ruling.

Dasuki is being investigated for allegedly supervising the laundering of $2 billion in funds meant for the procurement of arms for Nigeria’s military.

The former NSA was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on December 1, 2015 and handed over to the EFCC the following day.

President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the arrest of Dasuki and others indicted in the alleged fraud after receiving a report submitted by a panel instituted by him to probe Nigeria’s arms purchases from 2007-2015.

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The former NSA has been in the eye of the storm since being removed by Buhari in July.

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His homes in Sokoto and Abuja were raided by agents of the DSS and he was subsequently charged with money laundering and illegal possession of weapons.

The EFCC has also arrested 20 of Dasuki's former staff, Chairman of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Raymond Dokpesi and former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa in connection with the allegations.

Dasuki has pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him.

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See video report on Dasuki's alleged looting spree below:

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