The trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), took another twist on Thursday as the Federal Government pressed for fresh evidence — including the inspection of a vehicle seized from his home a decade ago.
Dasuki, who served under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is facing a refiled seven-count charge of money laundering and unlawful possession of firearms.
Prosecutors say DSS operatives uncovered large sums during July 2015 raids on Dasuki’s homes — $40,000, ₦5 million and $20,000 in Abuja, and another $150,000 plus ₦37.6 million in Sokoto.
They argue these findings breach the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, and are tied to his tenure as NSA.
At Thursday’s session, prosecution counsel Oladipupo Okpeseyi, SAN, asked the court not only to admit further evidence but also to relocate temporarily to the DSS headquarters to inspect a car allegedly recovered from Dasuki’s residence.
Okpeseyi told the court that earlier objections to the exhibits no longer stood, claiming that “a proper foundation” had now been laid through documents and witness accounts.
But defence lawyer A.A. Usman fired back, describing the move as “baseless, ill-conceived, and an abuse of court process.”
“These exhibits were already marked rejected. The prosecution cannot smuggle them back through the back door,” he argued. “Their only remedy was to appeal the earlier ruling.”
Justice Peter Lifu, after hearing both sides, adjourned the matter to October 14, 2025, when he will rule on whether the new evidence and the car inspection can go forward.
Earlier, a DSS operative, Musa Duniyor, testified that he was part of the search teams that stormed Dasuki’s homes in 2015, recovering flash drives, vehicles, bank documents and large cash sums.
Dasuki has consistently pleaded not guilty. He is also battling two other money laundering cases at the FCT High Court, all linked to the infamous arms procurement scandal in which billions meant for counter-insurgency were allegedly diverted.
