Armsgate: EFCC Consolidates Charges, Re-arraigns Dasuki, Others

Similarly, Dasuki is also being prosecuted by the anti graft agency alongside Bashir Yuguda, a former Minister of State for Finance; Attahiru Bafarawa, ex-governor of Sokoto State; his son, Sagir and their firm, Dalhatu Investment, for N13billion fraud before Justice Afem.

At the last hearing on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, moved an application for the consolidation of the two cases to allow for diligent prosecution.

Jacobs and Dasuki’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, then agreed before Justice Baba Yusuf to formally write the Chief Judge of the FCT judiciary, Justice Ishaq Bello, to consolidate the two charges in the interest of Justice.

The two counsels also urged Justice Baba-Yusuf to adjourn the matter pending the time the Chief Judge would consider the application for consolidation.

Consequently, the matter was adjourned to October 21, 2016 to allow the two parties reach a consensus and present the outcome of their meeting with the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Abuja.

At the resumed sitting today, counsel to EFCC, O. A. Atolagbe told Justice Baba-Yusuf that, “we met with Justice Afeem few minutes ago and he has ruled that the sister charge, CR/42/15, be transferred to this honourable court. We urge your Lordship to adjourn the two cases to the same day for trial or for further directions.”

The defence counsels raised no objection to the prosecution’s pleadings.

Consequently, Justice Baba-Yusuf granted the application and ruled that, the two cases be consolidated adding that, “the implication of this transfer is that the prosecution will serve the defence counsels so that the defendants can be re-arraigned before this court.”

He therefore adjourned to November 16, 2016 for re-arraignment of the accused persons.