TheCable

The trial of Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), could not take place on Tuesday owing to his absence.

This is the fourth time the former NSA has failed to appear before court where he is facing charges of money laundering brought against him the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Department of State Services (DSS) has held Dasuki in detention since December 2015, despite court orders granting him bail.

On Tuesday, when the case came up before Baba Yusuf, justice of the federal capital territory (FCT) high court, Abuja, Rotimi Jacobs asked for an hour stand-down of the matter because Dasuki was not in court.

He said he expected the defendant to be in court, but he could not say where he was.

Responding, Joseph Daodu, counsel to Dasuki, objected to the request on the grounds that the prosecution could not say where his client was. He demanded that the prosecution state the whereabouts of the accused person.

After listening to the counsel, the judge urged the prosecution to produce Dasuki in court on Wednesday.

The trial of the former NSA has not been seamless owing to his detention by the DSS.

Since 2015 the case has not made much progress.