Ex-NSA Dasuki’s N33.2bn fraud case begins afresh 10 years after

Former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and three others were re-arraigned on Tuesday in the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja for an alleged N33.2 billion fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Dasuki, a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation named Aminu Baba-Kusa, as well as two firms, Acaci Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

The defendants face a 32-count accusation for alleged criminal breach of trust and dishonest release of public monies.

Their re-arraignment before Justice Charles Agbaza followed the reassignment of the case by the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, who had previously handled it.

Dasuki was originally arraigned before Justice Baba-Yusuf on December 14, 2015, alongside Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, on a 19-count allegation stemming from an alleged N15.5 billion fraud.

The allegations were later revised, and Salisu’s name was dropped. Dasuki and the others were re-arraigned on May 11, 2018, on a new 32-count charge totalling N33.2 billion.

However, the trial was stopped because the prosecution only brought one witness—the investigating officer—who had yet to finish his testimony before the case was adjourned indefinitely.

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In 2015, the EFCC indicted Dasuki alongside former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda, former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa, his son Sagir Bafarawa, and his company, Dalhatu Investment Limited. They faced a 25-count accusation for criminal breach of trust and misuse of N19.4 billion.

The case was recently transferred to Justice Yusuf Halilu.

Both cases were repeatedly delayed due to the Department of State Services’ refusal to release Dasuki on bail, despite court orders granting him bail.

During the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 32 counts read to them.

The prosecution’s counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, then requested a trial date.

A.A. Usman and Richard Ibiye, lawyers representing Dasuki and Baba-Kusa, urged the court to allow the defendants to stay on their current bond, stating that they had always been present for court appearances.

The prosecution did not dispute the motion but emphasised the need for the defendants’ ongoing presence during the trial.

After hearing statements from both parties, Justice Agbaza determined that the defendants should continue on their current bail and delayed the trial until July 1.

Ex-NSA Dasuki’s N33.2bn fraud case begins afresh 10 years after

Senate committee throws out Natasha’s petition

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions has dismissed a petition submitted on behalf of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing ongoing litigation on the matter.

The petition, written by Mr. Zubairu Yakubu, a constituent of Akpoti-Uduaghan, was brought before the committee for deliberation.

During the hearing, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (APC – Ebonyi South) and former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, clashed over the handling of sexual harassment allegations tied to the case.

Dr. Ezekwesili, who accompanied Yakubu as a witness, defended the petition, leading to a tense exchange with Senator Nwaebonyi.

A war of words ensued between Nwebonyi and the former minister, who complained about how the allegation was being handled by senators.

However, the Committee ruled that it could not sit on the petition, in view of a pending case filed against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan by Dr. Unoma Akpabio, wife of the Senate President.

Citing Senate Rules, Senator Imasuen noted that the practice of the Senate was to desist from entertaining petitions on any matters pending before the court.

During the proceedings, tension rose as Nwebonyi described Dr Ezekwesili an ‘insult to womanhood’ and a ‘hooligan.’

The senator’s remarks followed the refusal of Dr Ezekwesili and other attendees to take an oath during the hearing.

While one of the senators insisted that either they take the oath or the committee would end the meeting, Dr Ezekwesili and her colleagues insisted on not taking the oath, during which Nwebonyi became apparently angry.

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He said: “You are an insult to womanhood, hooligan. People like you are not supposed to be here, hooligan. You are an insult to womanhood.” Ezekwesili, who later spoke with reporters, accused the Senate of violating the Constitution, adding that the Senate Rule cited by the committee was not superior to the Constitution.

She said: “The Nigerian Senate keeps telling citizens they are subject to Senate rules, even when those rules violate the Constitution. This is unacceptable in a democracy.”

She argued that the embattled Kogi Central lawmaker was denied fair hearing, insisting that it is in clear breach of provisions of the Constitution.

Dr Ezekwesili added: “The Senate placed its own rules above the laws of the land. Now, with this petitioner, they have done the same thing—using procedural loopholes to avoid addressing critical issues

“If a petitioner says they do not believe the Senate committee will give them a fair hearing due to clear bias, it is only just that an independent body reviews the matter.

“The Senate must respect the Constitution. Otherwise, we risk turning our democracy into a system where powerful individuals manipulate processes to silence opposition and suppress justice,” she said.

On the alleged bias by the Senate, the petitioner cited previous remarks attributed to the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Imasuen, where he described Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition as dead on arrival during a previous Committee sitting.

“How can the chairman serve as a judge in a case where he has already publicly taken a position? What is the need for us to present our case when a verdict has already been given before hearing us?,” he queried.

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Yakubu expressed disappointment over the objection by the Committee to his request that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been suspended for six months by the Senate be allowed to testify before the panel as principal witness.

He said the suspended senator was in custody of a crucial documentary evidence to support her claims, lamenting that she had been barred from entering the National Assembly as part of her suspension.

Yakubu added: “In my petition, I clearly stated that my witness would present her evidence personally. But she was not allowed into the premises. If my key witness is denied access, how can I proceed with my case?”

Counsel to the petitioner, Dr. Abiola Akinyode also faulted the alleged inconsistencies in the Senate’s handling of the petitions.

She said: “There is nothing in Yakubu’s petition that was not in Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s original petition. If the Senate dismissed her petition as ‘dead on arrival,’ then logically, Yakubu’s should also be dismissed.”

“The Senate seems to be operating under its own rules, separate from the Constitution. That is why they can suspend a senator for six months without following due process,” Akinyode said.

She also faulted the defence by the Committee that it could not hear a petition on a subsisting case before a court of competent jurisdiction.

Akinyode said: “If they knew the case was in court, they should have simply written to the petitioner stating they could not entertain it. Instead, they invited him, only to dismiss the petition on the basis that it was already in court.”

Senate committee throws out Natasha’s petition

(Nation)

Natasha: Tempers flare as Senator Nwaebonyi clashes with Ezekwesili at Senate hearing

A heated exchange broke out between Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North) and former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

The confrontation took place at the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions session, where the committee was considering a fresh petition filed by suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Ezekwesili, who was present alongside Abiola Akiode (counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan) and the petitioner Zubairu Yakubu, reportedly clashed with Senator Nwaebonyi over issues raised during the hearing.

Trouble started when Yakubu attempted to speak while Senate Committee Chairman, Neda Imaseun, was addressing the room.

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He was asked to mute his microphone, but when Ezekwesili tried to intervene, Nwaebonyi interrupted her.

In response, Ezekwesili told the senator to “compose himself and stop making noise,” a remark that sparked an angry outburst.

“You’re a fool. What do you mean? Why are you talking to me like that? I will not take it. You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here,” Nwaebonyi replied Ezekwesili.

Ezekwesili called him a “hooligan,” further escalating the altercation.

The verbal battle momentarily disrupted the hearing before order was restored.

Shortly after, Imaseun announced that the matter was already before a court of law, bringing the session to an abrupt end.

Natasha: Tempers flare as Senator Nwaebonyi clashes with Ezekwesili at Senate hearing

(Punch)