Arms Deal: Dasuki’s trial to be conducted in one court

The trials of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki on corruption charges before two High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been streamlined. This followed the transfer of the two charges into one court for quick and effective trial.

The Chief Judge of the FCT Judiciary, Justice Ishaq Bello ordered the transfer of charges before Justice Peter Affem to the court of Justice Baba Yusuf as the only Judge that will now conduct the trial.

Though Sambo Dasuki has been granted bails by all the courts involved in his trials, he has remained in the custody of Department of State Services (DSS) since November 2015.

The movement of the two charges into one court was at the instance of lawyers to the Federal Government and that of all the defendants in the matters.

The lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob confirmed to Journalist that the two charges in two different courts will now be conducted by a single court to ensure effective and speedy trial of the case. He also said that with the movement of the charges into one court the issue of consolidation of the charges will no longer arise having being overtaken by event.

Meanwhile, Justice Baba Yusuf has fixed November 16, 2016 for the trial. At the last hearing on October 5, 2016 before Justice Baba Yusuf, the Federal Government agreed to consolidate the criminal charges filed against Dasuki and others before the two different FCT High Courts.

This followed a complaint by Sambo Dasuki that putting him on trial in two different courts on the same issues was abuse of judicial process that would prejudice and cause double jeopardy.

The counsel to the government, Mr. Rotimi Jacob and that of Dasuki, Mr. Joseph Daudu agreed before Justice Baba Yusuf to formally write the chief judge of the FCT judiciary, Justice Ishaq Bello to consolidate the two charges in the interest of Justice.

The two senior counsels then applied to Justice Yusuf to adjourn the matter pending the time the chief judge would consider the application for consolidation. The judge who was then billed to give ruling on Dasuki’s motion for consolidation put off the ruling because of understanding between the prosecution and the defence and adjourn the matter till October 21, 2016.