FG files amended charge against Dasuki

as Dasuki urges court to release passport for medical check up

The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed amended charge against Sambo Dasuki, erstwhile National Security Adviser.

The prosecuting counsel led by S. M Labaran at the resumption trial, told a Federal High Court sitting before Justice Ademola Adeniyi about the amended charge newly filed against the ex-NSA.

The matter, which was slated for hearing Monday, was however stalled with the five-count amended charge filed against the defendant.

Brought pursuant to Section 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Dasuki was charged for being in possession of 5 Tavor Assault rifles, 1 macro Uzi with serial No 60244, 20 magazines, 1 packet of MOD (Ministry of Defence) APG calibre gun, Luger No 033373, small magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition, bigger magazine containing live rounds of ammunition, 1 magazine with 16 rounds of live 9mm ammunition and 36 rounds of live ammunition, an offence punishable under Section 27(1)(a)(I) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 LFN 2004.

He is also charged under Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), for retaining the sum of $40,000, N5 million and $20,000 at his No 13, John Kadiya Street, Asokoro, Abuja residence.

He was also accused to have retained $150,000 and N37.6 million at his Sultan Abubakar Road and Sabon Birni Road residences in Sokoto, an offence punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).

Dasuki however pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

In proving the case, the prosecuting counsel also filed a motion on notice seeking for witness protection, in which it sought the court’s permission for restricted access to the names and address of the prosecution witnesses.

The application also seeks to grant restricted access to unduly accredited journalists, coming to cover the proceedings.

In opposition to the application, counsel to the defendant, Joseph Daudu, informed the court about the foundation for its defence position, which is supported by a counter affidavit and also a further and better counter affidavit deposed to by one Henry Nwankwo.

Daudu urged the court to consider the application as a serious one rather as portrayed as being harmless by the prosecution, since they want the witnesses to be anonymous of which wouldn’t make background checks on them possible, thereby taking away the defence’s right to confrontation, which is very fundamental.

Daudu argued that the defendant and the court would be left disadvantaged, as there was no threat to the security of the state.

He further argued that the application for witness protection appeared to be academic as their names were already in the public domain, having filed the witness statements.

The also moved an application it filed for the interim release of the defendant’s international passport, because he was due for medical check up on July 17, 2015, which coincided with when he was arrested and brought to court.

The prosecution in its reply sought the court’s permission to have a holistic look at the application before filling appropriate response to it.

The trial judge, Adeniyi adjourned the application for witness protection for ruling on October 28, 2015, and the application on interim release of international passport for hearing on the same date.