Court To EFCC: Conclude Your Corruption Case Against Dasuki In Three Days

A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, has granted three consecutive days to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conclude the 10-year-old corruption case it instituted against a former National Security Adviser (NSA) to then President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki.
Justice Lifu allocated 7, 8 and 9 July for the anti-graft agency to conclude the corruption case it started in 2015.
This followed the trial afresh of the case in his court and after Counsel for EFCC, Oladipupo Okpeseyi, and A. A. Usman for Dasuki argued over the admissibility or otherwise of a subpoena issued on May 24, 201, to the Department of State Service (DSS) to present in court, certain items found on the defendant’s properties.
Usman initiated the arguments when he challenged the status of the subpoena, because it was issued to the DSS as an entity and not recognised by the law of the country.
But Okpeseyi countered, insisting that DSS was a creation of statute and that there had been no confusion in its identity, arguing: “The document was duly served on DSS. The Department has no confusion as to its identity.
“The witness did not exhibit any confusion as to his invitation by the court. The objection as to form does not defeat the end of justice.
“We humbly pray the court not to sustain the objection in the interest of substantial justice.”
In his ruling, Justice Lifu admitted the subpoena as an exhibit and reserved his ruling to be delivered along with the main charge, saying: “I have carefully and painstakingly listened to learned Counsel on the admissibility of the document sought to be tendered by the prosecution.
“I have also perused the document in relation to the name on the said subpoena. Admissibility of documentary evidence is governed by the law of evidence, and it is determined by relevancy.
“Being a criminal case, which is about 10 years old in the docket of this court, coupled with the fact that ACJA 2015 envisages speedy dispensation of criminal justice, this document shall be admitted and a ruling shall be incorporated into the final judgment of this court.”
He drew the attention of the parties to the fact that the case had dragged and suffered delay for 10 years.
At the proceedings, the first prosecution witness and exhibit keeper with the DSS, Monsur Mohammed, was permitted to give evidence on the strength of the subpoena.
He presented several items found in Dasuki’s properties at 13 John Khadije Street, Asokoro, Abuja; 46 Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro Abuja; Sabon Birnin Road, Sokoto and Sultan Abubakar Road, Sokoto.
Four different search warrants executed in July 2015 at the four properties led to the recovery of the undisclosed items, but admitted that nothing incriminating was found on the properties.
After the evidence, Justice Lifu held that in the circumstances of the case and by consent of all Counsel, “this suit is hereby adjourned to 7, 8 and 9 July 2025 at the instance of the court for further hearing.
“The learned prosecutor is expected to close his case on these adjourned dates.”