Court orders release of Dasuki’s International passport

Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of an FCT High Court, Maitama on Wednesday ordered for the release of the international passport of former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd).
Baba-Yusuf gave the order following an application by Ahmed Raji (SAN), Dasuki’s counsel, praying for the release of the passport, dated and filed on February 11.
Raji had sought for the release of the passport to enable Dasuki renew the expired passport, which has been in the custody of the court for the past four years.
Arguing the application, Raji withdrew the second relief sought in the application.
According to him, the relief seeking the release of the passport was not opposed as the prosecution did not file any counter application.
The prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, did not object to the relief sought by Dasuki.
Meanwhile, the judge adjourned until March 13 for hearing of the substantive case.
Dasuki is being tried alongside other defendants before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission since 2015 on alleged misappropriation of fund for arms.
He is being tried alongside former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda (1st defendant); former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir; and his company, Dalhatu Investment Limited.
They are facing a 25-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public fund to the tune N19.4 billion.
Similarly, Baba-Yusuf adjourned until April 9 for hearing of the sister case.
The EFCC applied to withdraw its two applications filed in October 2019 and on December 20, 2019.
The applications were struck out.
The sister case is numbered FCT/HC/CR/43/2015.
Dasuki is facing trial alongside a former General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Aminu Babakusa; and two firms: Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
They were first charged in November 2015 on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering and breach of trust to the tune of N13.5 billion alongside a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser, Shuaibu Salisu, who was later removed from the charge.
Other defendants were on May 16, 2018 re-arraigned on an amended 32-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, dishonest release and receiving various sums of money to the tune of N33 billion and misappropriation.