Dasuki Trial: Witness Details Naira Flows from ONSA to Private Pockets

The ongoing trial of former National Security Adviser Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) and co-defendants unfolded dramatically on January 13, 2026, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, before Justice C.O. Agbaza. EFCC investigator Dr. Michael Adariku, testifying as the first prosecution witness (PW1), meticulously traced millions of naira from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) account to private entities, painting a picture of alleged diversion from arms procurement funds totaling N33.2 billion. Led by Senior Advocate Rotimi Jacobs, Adariku’s evidence highlighted transfers between April and May 2015, linking second defendant Aminu Baba Kusa, ex-NNPC General Manager, to property acquisitions and overseas remittances.​

Key Fund Transfers Exposed

Adariku detailed a N600 million transfer on April 17, 2015, from ONSA’s Zenith Bank account (No. 1014199287) to Acacia Holdings Limited’s UBA account, boosting its balance from a mere N27,094.49. Subsequent outflows included N60 million to Hidayatul Atfaaf Islamic Academy for 3.62 hectares of land in Kyami District, Abuja, bought by Baba Kusa at N120 million total; N25 million in tranches to Zavati BDC Ltd for a N40 million hospitality property; and N124 million on April 24 with unclear purposes. Further payments covered land surveys (N8.1 million), beacon processing (N600,157), and N50 million toward 118.2132 hectares in Kwali for N75 million via Squad Developers Nigeria Ltd.​

Forex Conversions and UK Remittances

The witness uncovered layered transactions, including N55.9 million to Fastman Investment Ltd, which facilitated a $630,000 transfer to Saudi Arabia’s Dr. Suleiman Al-Abib, short of the requested $1 million. Medical Practice Limited, tied to Baba Kusa’s wife Mrs. Hauwa, received N150 million between April 1 and May 6, 2015, in chunks like N70 million and N80 million. Namuduka Ventures Ltd got N23.7 million, converted to $200,000 for Baba Kusa’s UK firm Blue Lake Management Consultancy, plus N56.4 million into €233,944 for Furnishing Touches and other euros equivalents from related entities.​

ADVERTISEMENT

Trial Background and Next Steps

This marks a fresh chapter in the decade-long case, re-arraigned on March 25, 2025, on 32 counts of breach of trust and dishonesty involving ONSA arms funds exposed by a 2015 audit under President Muhammadu Buhari. Dasuki faces parallel trials, including a N4.6 billion fraud case, amid past bail disputes with the SSS. The court adjourned proceedings to January 14, 2026, for trial continuation, as defendants maintain their innocence.