The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, this morning, arraigned the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, before an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama over a fresh 19-count criminal charge.
Dasuki was docked alongside the erstwhile Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu, former Executive Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Commission, NNPC, Aminu Baba-Kusa, as well as his companies, Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referal Hospital Limited.
Meanwhile, the accused persons who were alleged to have illegally diverted over N13.6billion from the national treasury, pleaded not guilty to the entire charge, even as Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf adjourned till Tuesday to hear their separate applications for bail.
Specifically, EFCC, alleged that it was the accused persons that supervised the unlawful disbursement of billions of Naira from different bank accounts belonging to the office of the NSA.
The funds were allegedly distributed to delegates to the Presidential Primary Election the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP held in Abuja, a process that saw the emergence of ex-President Jonathan as the sole candidate for the party.
The EFCC, among other things, alleged that the sum of N13.570 billion, being money for an “agreement”, between Dasuki and the ex-Director of Finance in the office of the NSA, Salisu, was looted from the national treasury.
They were said to have transferred a total sum of N1.45b to Acacia Holdings Limited’s account for special prayers; N2.1b given to DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited for publicity; N170m for a four-bedroom duplex; N380m to support re-election of members of the House of Representatives; and N750m paid into Reliance Referral Hospital Limited’s account for special prayers.
Besides, EFCC said its investigations revealed that N670m was paid to certain publisher, N260m transferred to Tony Anenih and N345million traced to a former President of the Senate, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu.
The Commission said it has not been able to trace the ex-Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Hon. Waripamowei Dudafa, who it said was “on the run”. Vanguard
More details soon.
