Court moves Dasuki’s trial to 2016

‎The federal high court, Abuja, has adjourned the trial of Sambo Dasuki, former national security officer (NSA), to January 20, 2016.

Adeniyi Ademola, the judge, adjourned the case after consultation with counsels of the plaintiff and the defendant.

The federal government had filed a fresh application seeking to stop Dasuki from travelling abroad for medical treatment.

In its fresh application on Thursday, Oluseyi Opasanya, counsel to the government, asked Ademola to stay proceedings in the ruling he delivered on November 3.

“The new application,” Opasanya said, “takes precedence over the earlier application.”

On November 3, the court had granted Dasuki permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, ordering an immediate release of his passport.

The government is now asking the court to suspend that order.

In his brief, Ahmed Raji, Dasuki’s lawyer, had countered the new application, arguing that the previous application, which sought to revoke his client’s bail, was yet to be determined.

He asked the court for a short adjournment to respond to the fresh application.

Afterwards, the court fixed Monday for hearing of the application.

However, at the resumed hearing on Monday, the court adjourned to January 20.

The former NSA was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) last Monday after a three-week siege on his Abuja residence.

Last Wednesday, he was handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for interrogation over an alleged N300bn fraud.

Dasuki was indicted by a presidential panel probing the procurement of arms in the armed forces from 2007 to 2015.

He was accused of using his office to award fictitious arms contracts, but he has denied the allegations, stating that former President Goodluck Jonathan approved all the contracts he awarded‎