The trial of a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), resumed on January 13, 2026, before Justice C.O. Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, with detailed testimony on alleged movements of public funds to private beneficiaries.
At the resumed hearing, the First Prosecution Witness (PW1), Dr. Michael Adariku, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), gave a breakdown of several financial transactions traced to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Adariku told the court that on April 17, 2015, the sum of ₦600 million was transferred from the ONSA account domiciled with Zenith Bank to the United Bank for Africa (UBA) account of Acacia Holdings Limited.
He noted that before the transfer, the balance in Acacia Holdings’ account stood at ₦27,094.49.
The witness further testified that on April 23, 2015, ₦60 million was transferred from the same source to Hidayatul Atfaaf Islamic Academy.
According to him, the proprietor of the academy, Mohammed Bashir, confirmed during EFCC interrogation that the sum was a part payment for the purchase of 3.62 hectares of land located in Kyami District, opposite Centenary City along Airport Road, Abuja.
He said the land was acquired by the second defendant, Aminu Baba Kusa, a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), at a total cost of ₦120 million.
Adariku also disclosed that on the same date, April 23, 2015, ₦25 million was transferred to Zavati Bureau de Change (BDC) Limited, owned by Abdulrahman Aliu, in three tranches of ₦10 million, ₦10 million, and ₦5 million.
He told the court that EFCC investigations revealed the payment was a part payment for a property known as Hospitality Property Limited, valued at ₦40 million, with an outstanding balance of ₦15 million.
The balance, he said, was later paid through Ibrahim Saleh Uba, identified as an agent and business facilitator to the second defendant.
The witness further informed the court that on April 24, 2015, transfers amounting to ₦124 million were made, but with no clear narration indicating the purpose of the payments.
According to him, additional transfers were carried out on April 27, 2015, including ₦600,157 paid for TUD violation of lands within the FCT, and ₦8.1 million transferred to Ibrahim Saleh Uba as payment to a surveyor for beacon processing on lands allegedly purchased by the second defendant in Kwali, Wasa District, Kyami District and the Central Area of the FCT.
He also testified that ₦50 million was transferred in five tranches of ₦10 million each to Squad Developers Nigeria Limited, owned by Sunday Gugu.
Following EFCC interrogation, Gugu reportedly confirmed that the funds were a part payment for 118.2132 hectares of land located at Stadium Layout, Kwali, Abuja, purchased by the second defendant for ₦75 million, with the outstanding ₦25 million paid through Ibrahim Saleh Uba.
Adariku further told the court that on April 28, 2015, a total sum of ₦55,923,000 was transferred in six tranches to Fastman Investment Limited on the instruction of the second defendant.
He said the Chief Executive Officer of Fastman Holding Group, Farouk Suleiman, confirmed the transaction during an EFCC interview.
According to the witness, Suleiman disclosed that he was contacted by the second defendant through one George, a staff member of the then Heritage Bank, to facilitate the transfer of $1 million to a client in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Suleiman Al-Abib of Medical Practice Services.
He added that only $630,000 was eventually transferred to the beneficiary.
The trial was adjourned for the continuation of hearing.
