Again, DSS fails to release Dasuki for trial

The federal government, on Tuesday, failed to produce Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser, before a federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Abuja for trial in the corruption charges brought against him by the‎ Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Although, the witnesses in the case were present in court, the trial was scuttled owing to the failure of the department of state services (DSS) to release Dasuki to the EFCC for the trial.

As the case resumed, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, counsel to the EFCC, informed Baba Yusuf, the judge, that he had made efforts through the EFCC to contact the DSS to produce the first defendant in court, but regretted that as of the time the court was sitting, his efforts did not yield results.

The counsel told the court that there was no indication that the former NSA would be brought to court for the trial.

However, counsel to Salisu Shuaib, a former director of finance at the office of the national security adviser, Akin Olujimi told the court that the prosecution had failed to produce Dasuki in court and that it ought to admit it.

Olujimi argued that it was settled in law that a trial would not go ahead in the absence of the defendant. He therefore prayed the judge to grant adjournment to the prosecution to enable it to take steps to produce Dasuki in court on a later date.

Olujimi also asked the court to issue a stern warning to the prosecution to be serious in the trial and to ensure that Dasuki is produced in court at all stages of the trial as demanded by law.

In his ruling, Justice Baba-Yusuf said that it was the responsibility of the prosecution to produce the defendant in court as required by law, but regretted that the prosecution had unfortunately abdicated this responsibility.

However, he adjourned the case to to May 23 for commencement of trial.