Money laundering trial: Ex-NSA Dasuki kicks as FG moves to tender evidence

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—The proceedings of erstwhile National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), resumed connected Thursday astatine the Federal High Court, Abuja, with the Federal Government seeking to tender further grounds against him.

Dasuki, who served nether ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is facing an amended seven-count complaint bordering connected wealth laundering and unlawful possession of firearms.

The Federal Government alleged that connected July 17, 2015, Dasuki was recovered successful possession of assorted firearms and sums of $40,000, N5 million, and $20,000 astatine his Asokoro residence. He was besides accused of retaining $150,000 and N37.6 cardinal astatine his Sokoto residences a time earlier, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.

At Thursday’s hearing, prosecution counsel Oladipupo Okpeseyi, SAN, sought the court’s support to tender further impervious of grounds and requested that the tribunal moves its sitting to the Department of State Services (DSS) office to inspect a conveyance allegedly recovered from Dasuki’s location successful 2015. He argued that the exhibits, earlier rejected, could present beryllium admitted arsenic due instauration had been laid.

However, defence counsel A.A. Usman, powerfully opposed the application, insisting that the exhibits had already been marked rejected by the tribunal and could not beryllium re-tendered. He argued that the prosecution’s lone lawful enactment was to entreaty the earlier ruling.

Usman maintained that the effort to reintroduce the exhibits was “baseless, ill-conceived, and an maltreatment of tribunal process.”

After listening to some sides, proceedings justice Justice Peter Lifu adjourned till October 14 for ruling.

Earlier, the 2nd prosecution witness, DSS operative Musa Duniyor, testified that helium participated successful searches conducted astatine Dasuki’s Abuja residences successful July 2015, wherever slope statements, flash drives, vehicles, and different items were recovered.

Dasuki, who has pleaded not guilty, is besides facing 2 abstracted wealth laundering cases earlier the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The station Money laundering trial: Ex-NSA Dasuki kicks arsenic FG moves to tender evidence appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.