16th November, 2015
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the case of retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, till November 23.
The Judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who adjourned the case following an oral application from the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr Taiwo Abidogun.
Ademola held that the adjournment would enable the Attorney General of the Federation appear and explain the siege on Dasuki’s Abuja residence.
Abidogun, who appeared for the first time on Dasuki’s case, had told the court that the attorney-general and Minister of Justice had just been sworn-in.
He told the court that he needed time to study the case and to enable him brief the minister on the matter.
The solicitor-general informed the court that the minister had yet to assume office.
He said that the minister would assume office on Wednesday, Nov. 18 and would be briefed about Dasuki’s case.
He, therefore, urged the court to allow them to appear on Monday.
Dasuki’s Counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu SAN, did not oppose the application.
It would be recalled that Nigeria’s former national security adviser pleaded not guilty to money laundering in connection with $423,000 in US dollars and Nigerian naira seized at his homes.
Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki also denied charges of illegal possession of an arms cache including assault rifles and a submachine gun found when security agents raided his homes in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and the northern city of Sokoto in July.
The raids came as Dasuki was trying to resign and Nigeria’s new president, Muhammadu Buhari, demanded an accounting before he could go.
Dasuki, 60, was a key adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and had taken control of weapons procurement from the Ministry of Defense.