TheCable

Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), says he is not afraid to stand trial.

Dasuki said this through his lawyer Joseph Daodu (SAN) in court on Monday.

He asked an Abuja high court to consolidate the two criminal charges bordering on alleged corruption and breach of trust brought against him by the federal government.

He told the court that he was not “scared of trial on alleged misappropriation of funds”, but insisted that “the right thing in law must be done”.

In a fresh motion on notice filed by Daodu, Dasuki claimed that his trial at two different courts on the same issues was unconstitutional, and that it was prejudicial to his right to fair trial.

Dasuki, who is standing trial on charges of alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of N13.5bn before Baba Yusuf, the judge, emphasised that the charges against him on the same issue constituted a gross abuse of court process.

In the motion brought pursuant to section six and 36 of the 1999 constitution and section 1, 208, 396, 491 and 492 of the administration of criminal justice act, 2015, Dasuki claimed that the two charges revolved around the same set of transactions and facts.

He claimed that the two charges with number FCT/HC/CR/43/2015, and another one with number FCT/HC/CR/42/2015 pending before Baba Yusuf of the high court No 4 and Peter Affen of the high court No 24 were identical charges emanating from the office of the national security adviser, and as such must be consolidated in the interest of justice and fair trial to avoid double jeopardy.

He prayed that his name be struck out from one of the two charges in the interest of justice.

However, counsel to the federal government, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), objected to the motion on the grounds that it was a ploy to frustrate and to delay the trial. He urged the judge to proceed with the case.

But Daodu urged the court to hear the motion because fundamental constitutional issues that required determination had been raised.

Baba Yusuf, thereafter, adjourn the matter to June 15 for hearing.