The trial of a former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), over the alleged diversion of N33.2 billion intended for arms procurement, continued on January 13, 2026, before Justice C.O. Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
At the resumed hearing, the first prosecution witness (PW1), Dr Michael Adariku, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), gave detailed testimony on how hundreds of millions of naira were allegedly transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to private individuals and companies.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Adariku told the court that on April 17, 2015, a sum of N600 million was transferred from the ONSA account domiciled with Zenith Bank to the UBA account of Acacia Holdings Limited. He disclosed that prior to the transfer, the beneficiary account held a balance of just N27,094.49.
The witness further testified that on April 23, 2015, N60 million was transferred to Hidayatul Atfaaf Islamic Academy. According to him, the proprietor of the academy, Mohammed Bashir, confirmed during EFCC interrogation that the money was a part payment for the purchase of 3.62 hectares of land located in Kyami District, opposite Centenary City, along Airport Road, Abuja. He said the land, valued at N120 million, was acquired by the second defendant, Aminu Baba Kusa, a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
On the same day, Adariku said N25 million was transferred in three tranches to Zavati Bureau De Change Limited, owned by Abdulrahman Aliu. He explained that EFCC investigations revealed the funds were part payment for a property valued at N40 million, with the balance allegedly paid through Ibrahim Saleh Uba, described as an agent and business facilitator for the second defendant.
The witness also told the court that on April 24, 2015, transfers totalling N124 million were made from the ONSA account without any clear narration or stated purpose.
According to him, further transfers on April 27, 2015, included N600,157 paid for land-related charges in the FCT; N8.1 million paid to Ibrahim Saleh Uba for survey and beacon processing for several parcels of land in Kwali, Wasa District, Kyami District, and the Central Area of Abuja; and N50 million paid in five tranches to Squad Developers Nigeria Limited.
Adariku said Squad Developers’ owner, Sunday Gugu, confirmed during EFCC interrogation that the N50 million was part payment for 118.2132 hectares of land at Stadium Layout, Kwali, Abuja, purchased by the second defendant for N75 million, with the outstanding N25 million allegedly paid through Ibrahim Saleh Uba.
The court further heard that on April 28, 2015, a total of N55.9 million was transferred in six tranches to Fastman Investment Limited on the instruction of the second defendant. The EFCC investigator testified that the Chief Executive Officer of Fastman Holding Group, Farouk Suleiman, confirmed the transaction and disclosed that he was contacted to facilitate the transfer of $1 million to a client in Saudi Arabia. However, only $630,000 was eventually transferred.
According to the witness, additional naira transfers were made through Reliance Referral Hospital Limited to Fastman Investment Limited to cover the naira equivalent of the $630,000 remitted abroad.
Adariku also testified that on April 30, 2015, sums of N4.86 million and N29.1 million were transferred to one O.A. Akinrimade, while N70 million was paid in two tranches to Medical Practice Limited, a company allegedly owned by the wife of the second defendant.
He disclosed that on May 4, 2015, another N80 million was transferred to Medical Practice Limited, bringing the total sum received by the company between April 1 and May 6, 2015, to N150 million.
The witness further revealed that on May 15, 2015, N23.69 million was transferred in three tranches to Namuduka Ventures Limited. He said EFCC investigations showed the funds were converted to $200,000 and transferred to the second defendant’s Blue Lake Management Consultancy account in the United Kingdom.
He added that additional transfers from Medical Practice Limited, Acacia Holdings Limited, and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited to Namuduka Ventures Limited, amounting to over N56.3 million, were converted to €233,944 and transferred to another UK-based account linked to the second defendant.
Adariku also testified that on May 13, 2015, N23.77 million was converted to €65,075 and transferred to a UK clearing account, while N2.22 million was converted to €1,500 and transferred to another foreign account allegedly linked to the defendant.
Following the testimony, Justice Agbaza adjourned the matter to January 14, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
Dasuki is standing trial alongside Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited, and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited on a 32-count charge bordering on breach of trust and dishonesty involving the alleged diversion of N33.2 billion in public funds.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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