The trial over the alleged N33.2bn arms procurement fraud involving a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), continued on January 13, 2026, before Justice C.O. Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, with fresh testimony on how public funds were allegedly diverted for private use.At the resumed hearing, the first prosecution witness (PW1), Dr. Michael Adariku, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), narrated in detail the movement of large sums from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to private companies and individuals.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the witness disclosed that on April 17, 2015, a sum of N600 million was transferred from the ONSA account domiciled with Zenith Bank to the UBA account of Acacia Holdings Limited. According to him, the balance in Acacia’s account before the transfer was just N27,094.49.
Dr. Adariku further testified that on April 23, 2015, N60 million was paid to Hidayatul Atfaaf Islamic Academy. He said the proprietor, Mohammed Bashir, confirmed during EFCC interrogation that the money was part payment for the purchase of 3.62 hectares of land in Kyami District, Abuja, allegedly acquired by the second defendant, Aminu Baba Kusa, a former NNPC general manager. On the same day, the witness said N25 million was transferred in tranches to Zavati Bureau de Change Ltd, owned by Abdulrahman Aliu. EFCC investigations, he added, revealed the payment was part payment for a property valued at N40 million, with the outstanding balance allegedly settled through an agent of the second defendant.
According to the witness, additional transfers followed on April 24, 2015, amounting to N124 million, without clear narration of their purpose. On April 27, 2015, further payments included funds for land-related charges in the FCT, survey fees, and N50 million paid to Squad Developers Nigeria Ltd as part payment for over 118 hectares of land in Kwali, Abuja. The court heard that on April 28, 2015, N55.9 million was transferred to Fastman Investment Ltd, following instructions allegedly linked to the second defendant. The company’s chief executive, Farouk Suleiman, reportedly told EFCC investigators that the transaction was connected to a planned $1 million transfer to Saudi Arabia, although only *$630,000 was eventually sent.Dr. Adariku also told the court that multiple transfers were made to Medical Practice Limited, a company allegedly owned by the wife of the second defendant, bringing the total transferred between April and May 2015 to N150 million.
Further testimony revealed that funds were allegedly converted into foreign currencies and transferred to accounts in the United Kingdom, including sums converted to dollars and euros and linked to companies such as Namuduka Ventures Ltd. Justice Agbaza adjourned the matter to January 14, 2026, for continuation of trial. Dasuki, alongside Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited, and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited, was re-arraigned by the EFCC on March 25, 2025, on a 32-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and dishonest misappropriation of public funds amounting to N33.2bn.
