TheCable

The trial of Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), at an Abuja high court did not commence ‎on Thursday owing to the inability of the federal government to make him available.

Dasuki is facing 22-count charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Over the course of his trial, the government has failed to bring him to court not less than five times.

The government had failed to bring him to court twice before Adeniyi Ademola of the federal high court, Abuja, once before Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the federal capital territory (FCT) high court, and twice before Peter Affen of the FCT high court.

All the courts where the government filed charges against him granted him bail, but he was re-arrested and kept in the custody of the Department of the State Services (DSS).

As the case was called on Thursday, Rotimi Jacob, counsel to the EFCC, told the judge he was surprised that Dasuki was not in court.

He explained that he had notified the EFCC on the need to bring Dasuki to court, but that he regretted the communication gap between the EFCC and the DSS was responsible for the absence of the accused person in court.

In response, Joseph Daodu (SAN), Dasuki’s counsel, said it was sad that the government which put his client on trial was now scuttling it.

Daodu said that from June when the case was adjourned to Thursday, the EFCC ought to have known that it was its responsibility to bring Dasuki to court.

After listening to the counsel, Affen, the judge, counselled the government to ensure that Dasuki is brought to court whenever his case is scheduled to hold.

He then adjourned the matter to October 21.