Court Grants Dasuki, Salisu, Baba-Kusa Bail

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court of Abuja has granted bail to former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki and two others.

The others are ex-Director of Finance and Administration in the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu and former Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa.

They were arraigned on December 14 before the court on a 19-count charge bordering on criminal diversion of funds preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Friday, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, in a ruling on their bail application, admitted each of them to bail at N250million and one surety at the same amount.

The judge said the sureties must show evidence of owning a property in the Federal Capital Territory worth N250m.

The judge further directed that the surety must be a Civil Servant not below the rank of a Director in the Federal Civil Service.

The surety must also swear to an affidavit of means while the accused persons are expected to deposit their travel documents before the court in addition to informing the court whenever they need to travel outside the federal capital territory.

The judge adjourned to January 21 next year for commencement of trial.

Dasuki, Salisu, Baba-Kusa and two companies – Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited were charged with conspiracy and criminal breach of trust under the Penal Code Act and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establsihment) Act.

Dasuki and Salisu were accused of distributing funds held in the account of the NSA in the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) to politicians, media practitioners and businessmen purportedly for political campaigns and organizing of prayer sessions.

The duo was, in counts 5, 6, 7 and 8 accused of paying N2.2billion to Baba-Kusa through the bank accounts of Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited in Zenith Bank Plc.

Dasuki, Salisu and former Special Assistant, Domestic Affairs to the President, Hon. Warimpamowei Dudafa (now at large) were, in count 1, said to have received N10billion, which they converted to $47m and 5.6m Euro, and claimed to have distributed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary election delegates around November 27, 2014.

Dasuki and Salihu were, in count 2, said to have, between January 22 and March 19, 2015 “remitted N2, 120,000,000 into the account of DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited controlled by one Dr. Raymond Dokpesi for the funding of the media activities for the 2015 presidential election campaign for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

They were in counts 15, 16 and 17 accused of paying N670m “to the bank account of General Hydrocarbons Limited with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc controlled by one Obaigbena Nduka purporting the said sum to be payment for’ energy consulting’; “N250m to the bank account of Tony Anenih with First Bank of Nigeria Plc”; and “N345m to the bank account of Starbriid Limited with Stanbic IBTC Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank controlled by one Emmanuel Lawani on behalf of Senator Iyordhia Ayu for the construction of shopping mall at Jabi, Abuja.

Baba-Kusa, Acacia Holdings and Reliance Referral Hospital were charged in counts 9, 10, 11 and 12 for receiving funds from Dasuki and Salihu which they knew to be proceeds of criminal conduct.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

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