BEVERLY HILLS, May 03, (THEWILL) –Â The trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki in the alleged diversion of $2.1billion arms funds has faced a new dimension the Federal Government filed 32 count amended charges against him and three others.
The filing of the amended charge, dated April 30, 2018 and signed by Mr Chile Okoroma, Director of Legal Services with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is coming almost three years after the Federal Government arraigned the former NSA before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on 18 count charge.
In the amended charges, names of prominent politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are listed as beneficiaries of the alleged diversions while a key defendant in the matter, Salisu Shuaib, a former Director of Finance and Supply in the ONSA under Colonel Dasuki was dropped from the new charge.
Apart from Dasuki, other defendants in the amended charge are Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
Prominent Nigerians alleged by the Federal Government to have been beneficiaries of money from the former NSA are the current National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus; former Chairman Board of Trustee PDP, Tony Anenih; former PDP Spokesperson, Olisa Metuh; Publisher of Thisday, Nduka Obaigbena; Senator Iyorchia Ayu; Chairman DAAR Communications Plc, Raymond Dokpesi; Mouftah Baba-Ahmed; Bello Abba Mohammed; Bello Mohammed; AVM M. N Umar; Jonah Ogunniyi among others.
Apart from individuals, corporate organisations were also named as beneficiaries in the amended charge are AMP Solar Service, Afro-Arab Investment, Bam Project and Projecties Limited, Bob Oshodin Organisation Limited, WEHSAC Farms Limited, Wehsac Limited, Dimaris Mode Coolture Limited, First ARALAC Global Limited, Stellavera Development Limited, Jawaz Multi-purpose Venture Limited, Little Italy Global Services Limited, Belsha Nigeria Ltd and Syvan McNamara Limited among others.
The presiding judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the FCT High Court is expected to take the fresh plea of the four defendants on May 17, 2018 as the amended charge of 32 count will replace the earlier 18-counts filed against the defendants about three years ago.
