Daily Justice

Abuja, Nigeria – On Tuesday, 25 March 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), Nigeria’s former National Security Adviser, before Justice Charles Agbaza at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. Dasuki faces allegations of orchestrating a £25 billion (N33.2 billion) fraud linked to arms procurement during his tenure.

Alongside Dasuki, the EFCC charged Aminu Baba Kusa, a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), as well as two companies, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited. The quartet faces a 32-count charge sheet accusing them of breach of trust and dishonesty involving the misappropriation of N33.2 billion (£25 billion) in public funds.

The charges detail a series of alleged financial improprieties. In one instance, Dasuki is accused of diverting N10 billion—equivalent to $47 million and €5.6 million—from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), funds meant for special security services. The prosecution alleges this sum was instead funnelled to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for its presidential primary election in November 2014, constituting a criminal breach of trust under Nigeria’s Penal Code Act.

Another count claims that between October 2014 and April 2015, Dasuki misappropriated N1.45 billion, transferring it to Acacia Holdings Limited’s account under the guise of payments for “organizing prayers.” Additionally, the EFCC alleges that between April and November 2014, Dasuki siphoned N4.685 billion into the account of Syvan McNamara Limited, claiming it was for physical security infrastructure, when in reality it supported PDP’s gubernatorial election campaigns in Ekiti and Osun States.

All defendants entered “not guilty” pleas when the charges were read in court. Prosecution counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe requested a trial date, while the defence sought to maintain existing bail conditions for Dasuki and Kusa. The prosecution raised no objections but stressed the need for the defendants’ consistent attendance at trial. Justice Agbaza adjourned the case to 1 July 2025 for a full hearing.

The high-profile case, originally overseen by Justice Hussain Baba-Yusuf, has been reassigned to Justice Agbaza, marking a new chapter in a legal saga that has gripped Nigeria’s attention. The allegations underscore ongoing efforts by the EFCC to tackle corruption within the country’s political and security apparatus.