FORMER National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa and ex-Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, were yesterday remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications today.
They were arraigned before Justice Peter Affen of a Federal Capital Territory [FCT] High Court for money laundering allegations and criminal breach of trust ofN19 billion. Also docked by the EFCC on a 22-count charge of fraud and money laundering are Shuaibu Salisu, a former director of finance at the NSA office, Bafarawa’s son, Sagir; and Dalhatu Investment Limited.
They all pleaded not guilty to all the charges, but hearing on their bail applications was adjourned till today. The court ordered their remand in the EFCC custody.
Justice Affen had on Monday granted leave for the EFCC to prefer charges against the accused persons and their companies after holding that the proof of evidence has established a prima facie case against them.
Meanwhile, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of a FCT High Court has deferred till Friday, his ruling on the bail applications brought by Dasuki, Salisu, and ex- General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba Kusa.
The judge ordered that they should be remanded in the EFCC custody till the adjourned date.
Theyarefacing a19-countchargeofmoneylaundering and criminal breach of trust involving N32.2billion.
Two companies, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited were also, brought before Justice Yusuf for the alleged offences.
Although all the accused pleaded not guilty, Justice Yusuf deferred his decision on their bail applications and or- dered that they should be remanded in the EFCC custody.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has urged the court to refuse Dasuki’s bail application on the ground that he will use his position as a former NSA with wide influence and afflurence to intimidate, harass and influence prosecution witnesses.
In addition, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) argued that most of the witnesses are public servants who had worked under him and will be intimidated by Dasuki if released on bail.
He argued that Dasuki will frustrate investigation if granted bail.
The accused persons were represented by Ahmed Raji (SAN), A.U Mustapha and Solomon Umoh.
Sun
