$2.1b arms scam: Late arrival of Dasuki from custody stalls his trial

The late arrival of a former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, from security custody has stalled the commencement of his trial before Justice Peter Affen of a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja
The proceedings could not go on due to the failure of the operatives of the Department of State Service to produce Dasuki in court ‎on time.
It was also affected by the need for the other co-defendants to respond to an application by Dasuki to stop the trial over the failure of the government to obey the bail conditions granted him by Justice Affen.
The operatives of DSS only produced the ex-NSA in court two hours after the court started hearing the matter and after Justice Affen had adjourned the case till February 26, 2016.
Others who are being prosecuted along with the former NSA with respect to charges of diversion of arm funds include a former Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu; a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; a former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; the ex-governor’s son, Sagir; and a firm, Dalhatu Investment.
Before the adjournment, Dasuki’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), had complained bitterly that his client was rearrested to an unknown destination where his lawyers could not have access to him.
Daudu said he had filed an application before the judge, arguing that the prosecution lacked the right to continue to prosecute him because of the flagrant disobedience of government to all bails granted to Dasuki from three courts.
The counsel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), said he too had filed a counter affidavit and had just served the affidavit on Dasuki and others in the case.
Other counsels told the judge they needed time to respond to issues raised in the counter affidavit of the EFCC and that the trial should not continue until the applications are concluded.
Dasuki was re-arrested by operatives of the DSS on December 29, 2015 shortly after he was released from prison upon fulfilling the bail conditions granted him by Justice Affen and two other judges.