$2.1bn arms deal fraud: Dasuki loses bid to stop ongoing trial

The Federal High Court, Abuja has dismissed an application by embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to stop his trial in the $2.1 billion arms deal fraud. Delivering judgement in the suit filed by Dasuki against the Federal government today April 19th, the presiding judge, Justice Ademola Adebiyi, ruled that Dasuki's trial must continue.

The judge said Dasuki had not followed the proper process of filing a contempt charge against the federal government. According to Justice Adebiyi, it was out of place for a defendant in a suit to ask that charges against him be dropped for unweighty reasons.

He therefore dismissed the former NSA’s application to stop his trial. Dasuki had filed the application to stop his trial on the grounds that the federal government lacked moral and legal rights to continue his trial after it had disobeyed order of bail granted him since Nov 3rd 2015.

Meanwhile, an Abuja High Court has fixed May 3rd for Dasuki's trial on charges of diverting funds meant for the purchase of arms for soldiers fighting Boko Haram.