Abuja
An FCT High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the hearing of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) trial till March 22.
Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, adjourned the trial, after Dasuki’s counsel, Mr. Adeola Adedipe drew the court’s attention to an application dated November 3, 2017, for an adjournment, pending the outcome of a Supreme Court judgment on March 2.
Dasuki is standing trial alongside former Minister Bashir Yuguda, former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Shuaibu Salisu, a former governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, his son, Sagir, and their family company, Dalhatu Investment Limited.
They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 22-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and fraudulent diversion of public fund to the tune of N19.4 billion.
“For the interest of Justice and fair hearing the matter is adjourned until March 22 for hearing,” Justice Baba-Yusuf ordered.
Earlier, Adedipe said the application was praying for the court to grant him an adjournment pending the outcome of Supreme Court judgment on March 2 in Dasuki’s case.
He said the outcome might have direct effect on the case in the High Court.
Counsel to the first defendant (Yuguda), Mr. Olajide Ayodele, and Dr. Kayode Olatoke for fourth and fifth (Bafarawa and son) submitted that in the interest of fair hearing and justice they were in support of the application.
Other counsel in the matter also aligned with their submissions.
Objecting, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Oluwaleke Atolegbe, asked the court not to grant the application, saying’ “the application here is predicted on the appeal at apex court.”
At the last sitting, the prosecution had informed the court that he had just returned from the Supreme Court where an appeal filed by Dasuki on a decision of the court was heard and judgement reserved for March 2.
He also informed the court that Dasuki withdrew his application before the Supreme Court asking for the trial at the High Court to be adjourned pending the hearing of his appeal at the apex court, which was earlier fixed for January 24.
He said there was the need for the second defendant to also withdraw his application, dated November 3, pending before the High Court.
