A former Nigerian presidential adviser retired Col. Sambo Dasuki accused of misappropriating $2.2 billion asked the High Court Friday to dismiss charges against him. In the latest hearing prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) rejected Dasuki's application for stay of proceeding based on the provisions of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The Guardian reported that the former National Security Adviser (NSA) is facing thee different cases, including money laundering, illegal possession of firearms, and diverting money to buy weapons to fight Boko Haram. Friday's trial was pushed back due to arguments on Dasuki's continued detention even after he was granted bail for release.
The trial on the adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was adjourned because scattershot investigation and a rushed prosecution could have adverse effects on the anti-corruption movements.
All Africa wrote that Dasuki is facing the $2.2 billion corruption charges along with NSA office Finance Director Shuiabu Salisu, former NNPC Group Executive Director Aminu Baba-Kusa, Reliance Reference Hospital, and Acacia Holdings Ltd. Dasuki's lawyer Joseph Daudu (SAN) filed on January 12, 2016 an application to discharge the former NSA or stay the proceeding due to the bail issue.
Other defense lawyers including Wale Akanni, Solomon Umoh, and Akin Olujimi, along with all Senior Advocates of Nigeria said they haven't received the application and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's reply. Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf adjourned Dasuki's case and scheduled for a ruling on February 4.
According to the Daily Mail UK, the former NSA has been detained for almost two months despite being granted with bail by three different courts. President Muhammadu Nuhari said he won't release Dasuki. The president blames the former adviser for the deaths of civilians and children because the soldiers who were supposed to fight Boko Haram weren't properly armed.
Buhari is aggressively cracking down the endemic corruption since becoming president last year, leading to a series of charges and arrests. Just this week, his administration alleged 55 high ranking people of stealing more than $6 billion worth of public funds from 26 to 2013, which could have been used for the development of the nation's struggling economy.
