Releasing Dasuki, Bafarawa now risky – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has objected to the bail of former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Col. Sambo Dasuki and five others who were charged with alleged diversion of funds, saying they could face physical attacks in the society.

Dasuki was arraigned in a 22-counts charge before an FCT High Court along with Bashir Yuguda, former Minister of State for Finance; Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State and his son, Sagir Attahiru, Shuaibu Salisu and Dalhatu Investment Ltd.

Arguing a counter affidavit filed before the court yesterday, EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacob (SAN) told the court that it is in the interest of the defendants to be put in “protective custody so as to shield them from possible attack by relatives of the innocent soldiers who lost their lives due to lack of adequate equipment and facilities caused by the diversion of funds meant for the purpose.”

He argued that if released on bail, the accused persons who still have some influence in the institutions they superintended, could intimidate the proposed prosecution witnesses who served under them.

He further submitted that the EFCC is still investigating the defendants and tracing large volume of assets in different parts of the world with the proceeds of the alleged crime, adding that if released they could interfere with the “asset tracing activities.”

He told the court that the former NSA, who is facing other criminal charges in other courts, will escape the jurisdiction of the court and from Nigeria if granted bail.

But Senior Advocates of Nigeria: P.T. Akpa, Ahmed Raji, Joshua Olatoke, and H. O. Afolabi in their separate submissions asked the court to disregard the EFCC submissions as being speculative.

The defence argued that the EFCC have failed to provide addresses of the said properties believed to have been acquired by his clients.

After listening to the submissions, Justice Peter Affen adjourned the case to December 21 for ruling.