The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday told the Federal High Court, Abuja, how the embattled former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) allegedly diverted over N32bn meant for the procurement of arms to purchase properties in London and Dubai.
The EFCC also told the court that there were documents showing that the ex-NSA gave the approval for the release of the funds to the accounts of private companies and individuals form the funds meant for arms procurement.
Counsel to the anti-graft agency, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs SAN, stated this before Justice Yusuf Baba while opposing the bail applications filed by the accused persons, who are standing trial on a 19-count charge of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and dishonest misappropriation of the money.
Dasuki alongside other accused persons, like former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, and a former Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Aminu Baba-Kusa, and two companies namely, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited all pleaded not guilty to the 19 count charges preferred against them by the EFCC.
Jacobs told the court that the EFCC was still investigating other “aspects of the case” involving Dasuku and the other suspects, adding that the commission was still tracing assets linked to the proceeds of the diversion of the funds.
The prosecution further stated that the embattled ex-NSA used the proceeds of the funds meant for arms procurement for soldiers battling insurgency in the North-Eastern part of the country to purchase houses in London and Dubai.
It also alleged in its counter-affidavit that the accused transferred huge sums of money to companies whose identities were yet to be ascertained, adding that he transferred large sums of money outside Nigeria to acquire “several assets in Dubai and London.’’
The commission’s counter-affidavit also read, “That our investigation also revealed that the applicant transferred large sums of monies outside Nigeria and he acquired several assets in Dubai and London with these funds.”
Dasuki, alongside Salisu and Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa, were arraigned on a 19 count charge.
EFCC also alleged that the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Dasuki paid the sum of N2.1bn into the account of DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited, controlled by Raymond Dokpesi for the funding of media activities for the 2015 Presidential Election Campaign for the PDP.
Dasuki also purportedly paid N1.45bn to Acacia Holdings Limited, chaired by Baba-Kusa, to organise prayers, as well as the sum of N750m to Reliance Referral Hospital Limited in favour of Baba-Kusa for prayers.
Belsha Nigeria Limited, led by Bello Matanwalle, was also alleged to have been paid N380m to support some members of the House of Representatives for their re-election campaign.
General Hydrocarbons Limited controlled by Thisday publisher, Nduka Obaigbena was also said to have received N670m for “energy consulting”.
Former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih, who was also the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, during the March 28 presidential election was said to have been paid N260m .
The Office of the National Security Adviser was also alleged to have paid former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu, the sum of N345m for the construction of a shopping mall at Jabi, Abuja.
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