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$2.1BN ALLEGED FRAUD: Twist as FG files fresh charges against Dasuki excluding co-defendant

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$2.1BN ALLEGED FRAUD: Twist as FG files fresh charges against Dasuki excluding co-defendant

The trial of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki, over alleged diversion of $2.1billion arms funds has witnessed a twist.

The Federal Government has filed 32 count amended charges against him and three others but dropped a key defendant in the matter, former Director of Finance and Supply in the ONSA under Dasuki, Salisu Shuaib.

The amended charges came after the Federal Government had about three years ago arraigned Dasuki before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on 18 count charges.

The FG in its amended charges, dated April 30, 2018 and signed by Chile Okoroma, Director of Legal Services with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), included in the earlier list of beneficiaries of the alleged diversions, some notable politicians from the opposition party.

Although there is no known reason yet while Shuaib’s name was dropped in the amended charges, but the lead counsel to Dasuki, Mr. Ahmed Raji, (SAN), suspected that the former Director of Finance and Supply in the ONSA might have entered into a deal with the Federal Government.

He told judiciary correspondents when he was sighted at the FCT High Court along with Dasuki that he has no knowledge what the deal was.

He meanwhile noted that coming events in the trial will lay bare to the defendants and their counsel all the circumstances that warranted the dropping of the core accused name in the trial.

“Till then we will keep our fingers crossed,” he added.

READ ALSO : Buhari desperate, won’t get my support for 2nd term in office- Obasanjo

Aside Dasuki, other defendants in the amended charge are Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

Prominent Nigerians alleged by the Federal Government to have been beneficiaries of money from the former NSA are the current National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, former Chairman Board of Trustee PDP, Tony Anenih; former PDP Spokesperson, Olisa Metuh; Publisher of Thisday, Nduka Obaigbena, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, Chairman DAAR Communications Plc, Raymond Dokpesi, Mouftah Baba-Ahmed, Bello Abba Mohammed, Bello Mohammed, AVM M. N Umar and Jonah Ogunniyi among others.

 

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