$2billion arms deal : Former NSA, Sambo Dasuki refuses to face trial – EFCC

– The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says Sambo Dasuki has refused to face trial

– Rotimi Jacobs, counsel to the anti-graft commission told the court that Dasuki refused to appear in court embattled

– Counsel to the accused, Wale Balogun told the court he was not aware of any conspiracy to stall the trial

Dasuki exits the court building after today’s court session

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 23, told an Abuja high court that the former national security adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki has refused to face trial.

The EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs at the sitting today said the commission had persuaded the embattled NSA to come to court but he refused.

“My lord, We persuaded him to come to court but he refused and said he cannot be abducted and that nobody can abduct him. I also confirmed that Daudu had filed an application on the 24th of February at the court of appeal, when I say it I knew it will stall today’s proceedings but I did not know it will go farther than this,” Jacobs told the court.

Citing Section 267 (2) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Jacobs made submissions that, a defendant even while in custody can face trial.

He added that legal representatives of a defendant facing trial can make arrangements to interact with him while in custody and prepare him (Dasuki) for trial.

“I asked the Department of State Services (DSS) if his counsel ever made any attempt to see him, they said he never made any attempt to see him in custody. It is a deliberate game plan by the defendant and his counsel that his trial do not go on,” Jacobs said. 

But responding to the allegations by the prosecution, counsel for the defense, Wale Balogun told the court he was not aware of any conspiracy to stall the trial.

Balogun said the lead counsel, Joseph Daudu was absent in court for some reasons far from Jacobs allegations.

“We are not in the position to dispute this, because we have not had access to him, he is in their custody. It is an elementary requirement of the law that he is suppose to be here all through trial. It is on record that the prosecution had not made any application to excuse the defendant.

“In view of the fact that he is not here, the trial cannot continue. The allegations made by the prosecution is a serious one, it is a statement an officer of the DSS should have deposed to an affidavit on. It should be brought before the court by way of an affidavit to form part of the court’s records,” Balogun said.

Also the cousel to the second defendant added told the court not be inefficient due to Daudu’s absence.

“It is beyond me that your lordship will be incapacitated due to absence of the defendant in trial unless there is a voluntary excuse for his personal presence in trial, his presence is fertile for trial,” he said.

After listening to all the submissions made by the counsels, the judge, Hussein Baba adjourned the matter to Wednesday, April 6, 2016 for hearing.

Dasuki is standing trial in three different courts for diverting $2.1 billion slated for arms procurement.

He was also granted bail by three different courts but has since remained under detention at the DSS facility in Abuja.