Arms purchase scandal: Yuguda, Dasuki, others granted bail

Justice Peter Afem of the FCT High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday, December 21, 2015, granted a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and four others bail in the sum of N250m each.

Yuguda alongside Col. Dasuki (rtd.); Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser; Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, a former governor of Sokoto State; Sagir Attahiru, Bafarawa’s son and Dalhatu Investment Limited are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy, bribery, abuse of office and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N28,315,000,000.00

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Col. Muhammed Sambo Dasuki( rtd.), whilst being the National Security Adviser and Shuaibu Salisu,  whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the office of the National Security Adviser,  between  14th April, 2014 and 7th  May, 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: an aggregate sum of N3, 350, 000,000 (Three Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) being part of the funds in the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said properties when you transferred same to the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited with United Bank for Africa Plc, purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.”

Justice Afem had, at the last sitting on Wednesday, December 16, 2015, fixed ruling on the bail application today, after listening to the motion for bail moved by counsel to the defence as well as the prosecution’s counter affidavit.

In his ruling today, Justice Afem granted the defendants bail in the sum of N250m each with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties must be serving or retired civil or public servant of the rank of director, with proof that they have the wherewithal to provide the said sum in the event of the defendants jumping bail.

Each of the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of court and their counsel must recommend in writing that the sureties are of good standing.

The defendants must also submit their international passports to the court.

Justice Afem ordered the defendants to be remanded in Kuje Prison pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned to February 2, and 3, 2016 for the commencement of trial.

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