Dasuki’s refusal to appear in court stalls his trial

Embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, Wednesday, refused to appear in court, for the continuation of his trial on the 19-count money laundering charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and ‎four others. ‎

At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that the former NSA who has been in detention since November 3, 2015, refused to be brought to court.

“My lord, yesterday (Tuesday) the 1st defendant was notified that this matter will come up today (Wednesday) for hearing and that he ‎should prepare.

“However, this morning, ‎the 1st defendant refused to come to court on the ground that his lead counsels Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, and Ahmed Raji, SAN, will not be in court.

“We persuaded him to at least come to court first but he refused and insisted that he cannot be abducted. He said that nobody can ‎abduct and bring him to court”, Rotimi added.

Jacobs however prayed the court to continue with the trial since his witnesses are ready. He equally insisted that the action of the former NSA was a deliberate game plan to ensure his trial does not go on.

Read also: DSS releases Ekiti lawmaker, Akanni

However, a lawyer, who announced appearance for Dasuki, Mr. Wale Balogun, countered Jacobs, insisting that he was not aware of any of the allegations the prosecution raised against his client, contending that the onus was on the prosecution to produce the defendant who has been in its custody, in court ‎for trial. ‎

”We are not in custody of the 1st defendant, they are the ones that have him in custody. We are not ordinarily allowed to see him, so there is no way we can confirm all the allegations”.

He insisted that the allegations raised by the prosecution was a serious one, adding the DSS officer who related the happening to Jacobs should have deposed to an affidavit.

Similarly, counsel to the other ‎defendants agreed with Dasuki’s lawyer that EFCC ought to have backed the allegations with an affidavit evidence.

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