The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has accused a former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, a former minister of state for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, and a former director of finance at the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, of stealing N5.05 billion between April 14, 2014 and May 7, 2015.
The anti-graft agency also accused Mr. Yuguda, alongside a former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa, his son, Sagir Bafarawa, and their company, Dalhatu Investment Limited, of receiving stolen property amounting to N4.633 billion from the office of the National Security Adviser.
The accused persons, who were arraigned before Justice Peter Affen of the High Court of the Federal Capital territory Abuja on Tuesday, all pleaded not guilty to a 22-count charge of fraud.
The charges are different from those raised against Mr. Dasuki and his alleged accomplices on Monday, involving the alleged misuse of N13.6 billion state funds.
Court paper obtained provide details of new charges against the former NSA. They contain supporting affidavits by a legal officer of the EFCC, Andrew Akoja.
Details of the 22-count charge against the suspects showed that Messrs. Dasuki and Salisu, between April 14, 2014 and May 7, 2015, transferred N3.350 billion from the account of the NSA with Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to the account of “Dalhatu Investment Limited with United Bank for Africa Plc, purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment”.
Mr. Bafarawa and his son, Sagir, as well as their company, Dalhatu Investment were also charged with collecting N3.350 billion from the former NSA “knowing the said sum to be stolen property but purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment”.
Messrs. Dasuki and Salisu are also accused of transferring another N500 million from the account of the NSA with Skye Bank to the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited with UBA on December, 20 2014 “purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment”.
Dalhatu Investment and the Bafarawas are also accused of receiving the same N500 Million even after “knowing same to be stolen property”.
The Bafawaras and their company are also accused of receiving another N100 million from a company, Jabbama Ada Global, on the instruction of former minister Yuguda, purportedly for the presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party in Sokoto State, and knowing that the sum belonged to the Nigerian government.
Mr. Bafarawa, his son, Sagir, and their company Dalhatu Investment are also accused of “dishonestly receiving” N783 million between June 25 and August 20, 2014 into their account with UBA from the account of SAS Imprest Main Account with the CBN on the instruction of Mr. Dasuki.
Credit: PremiumTimes