The trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd.), over the alleged diversion of ₦33.2 billion meant for arms procurement continued on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with fresh details emerging on how public funds were allegedly channelled to private individuals and companies.
Testifying before Justice C. O. Agbaza, the first prosecution witness, Dr. Michael Adariku, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), gave a detailed account of financial transactions traced to accounts operated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Adariku told the court that on April 17, 2015, ₦600 million was transferred from an ONSA account domiciled with Zenith Bank to the UBA account of Acacia Holdings Limited. He noted that prior to the transfer, the balance in Acacia Holdings’ account was just ₦27,094.49.
The witness further disclosed that on April 23, 2015, another ₦60 million was transferred to Hidayatul Atfaaf Islamic Academy. According to him, the proprietor of the academy, Mohammed Bashir, confirmed during EFCC interrogation that the money was part-payment for the purchase of 3.62 hectares of land in Kyami District, opposite Centenary City along Airport Road, Abuja. The land, Adariku said, was acquired by the second defendant, Aminu Baba Kusa, a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), at a total cost of ₦120 million.
On the same day, the witness testified that ₦25 million was paid in three tranches—₦10 million, ₦10 million, and ₦5 million—to Zavati Bureau de Change Limited, owned by Abdulrahman Aliu. EFCC investigations, he said, revealed that the funds were part-payment for a property known as Hospitality Property Limited, valued at ₦40 million. The outstanding ₦15 million balance was later paid through one Ibrahim Saleh Uba, described as an agent and business facilitator to the second defendant.
Adariku also told the court that on April 24, 2015, transfers totaling ₦124 million were made from the ONSA account without any clear description of their purpose.
According to him, further transactions on April 27, 2015, included a payment of ₦600,157 to the Federal Capital Territory Administration for land-related charges, as well as ₦8.1 million paid to Ibrahim Saleh Uba as survey fees for beacon processing on lands allegedly purchased by the second defendant in Kwali, Wasa District, Kyami District, and the Central Area of the FCT.
The EFCC investigator added that another ₦50 million was transferred in five tranches of ₦10 million each to Squad Developers Nigeria Limited, owned by Sunday Gugu. During EFCC interrogation, Gugu reportedly confirmed that the money was part-payment for 118.2132 hectares of land at Stadium Layout, Kwali, Abuja, purchased by the second defendant for ₦75 million, with the balance paid through Ibrahim Saleh Uba.
Adariku further disclosed that on April 28, 2015, a total of ₦55.923 million was transferred in six tranches to Fastman Investment Limited on the instruction of the second defendant. He said the Chief Executive Officer of Fastman Holding Group, Farouk Suleiman, confirmed the transactions and revealed that he was contacted through a Heritage Bank staff member to facilitate the transfer of $1 million to a client in Saudi Arabia. According to Suleiman, only $630,000 was eventually transferred to the beneficiary, Dr. Suleiman Al-Abib of Medical Practice Services in Saudi Arabia.
The court adjourned the matter to a later date for the continuation of the trial.
