Court To Proceed With Dasuki's Trial Without His Lawyer

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted prayers of the federal government to proceed with the  trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), should his lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), fail to appear in court  at next sitting.

The judge consequently adjourned till April 9 and 10 for the continuation of trial.

Dasuki is standing trial on allegation bordering illegal possession of firearms and money laundering.

At the resumed trial yesterday, the court registrar read out a letter from Daudu's chambers informing the court that he (Daudu) was attending the Body of Bencher's meeting at the Supreme Court.

He prayed the court to adjourned the matter to enable him appear at the next adjourned date.

However, prosecution counsel, Oladipo Okpeseyin (SAN), who had at previous sitting complained of incessant adjournments on behalf of the defendant, raised an objection to Daudu's letter.

Okpeseyin said although he has been served with  the letter from the defence lawyer  praying for an adjournment, the letter was pregnant with unanswered questions.

He said: “As innocent as the letter looks, it is pregnant because it is asking the court to decide whether the rights and privileges of a citizen with the authority of the court are subservient to that of the body of benchers.

"Whichever way the court resolves the issue, we are bound by the decision of the court. On our part, we are ready. Our witnesses are also here in court. The ACJA has specified time and period for adjournment.

"If the defence counsel fails to appear in court at next sitting, the court is at liberty to proceed with the case."

Justice Mohammed thereafter adjourned the matter to April 9 and 10, 2018, with a nod to the prosecution to go ahead with the trial should the defence fail to appear in court at the next adjourned date.

Daudu had also on January 18, 2018, prayed the court for an adjournment to attend to other issues.

Dasuki was arraigned before the court on December 2015 on a five-count charge of alleged illegal possession of firearms and money laundering.

The federal government had accused Dasuki of being in possession of  five Tavor X95 assault rifles with numbers 45801168, 45801169, 45801175, 45801176 and 4801199 unlawfully.

The other items allegedly found in the residences of the accused person in Abuja and Sokoto were ammunition and cash in various foreign currencies.