TheCable

Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), on Wednesday failed to testify in the ongoing trial of Olisa Metuh, former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Ahmed Raji, Dasuki’s counsel, told the court that his client cannot testify at the sitting due to a loss of memory.

He said having spent about two years in DSS custody, the ex-NSA needs access to “relevant files, records and documents required to refresh his memory of any decisions or actions he took or authorised in the course of his duties”.

He, therefore, asked the judge to “tarry a while” in the course of the proceeding pending the determination of Dasuki’s appeal in the case.

Emeka Etiaba, Metuh’s counsel, agreed with Dasuki’s plea.

He said the former NSA needs additional time to go through available documents and records on the case.

Metuh, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering, had requested that Jonathan and Dasuki appear as witnesses.

Both Jonathan and Dasuki were absent at the last sitting, prompting the judge to give the bailiff five days to serve them the summons to appear in the next sitting.

Jonathan has asked a federal high court sitting in Abuja to direct Metuh to pay him the sum of N1 billion for logistics and travelling expenses for himself and his security personnel.