Dasuki brought sophisticated weapons into the country – FG

The federal government likewise feared that the large cache of sophisticated weapons are in the custody of those people sympathetic to Dasuki’s course. In addition to the federal government’s accusation against the former national security adviser, the FG urged the court to give protection to its witnesses who will testify against Dasuki in the criminal charges of illegal possession of arms and ammunition, as well as money laundering.

However, the court had initially objected to such a similar application that was filed, the government submitted a fresh motion on Wednesday, June 8, asking for an order to protect the identities of its witnesses. The federal government wanted the record of the court proceedings not to be made public. While moving the motion, federal government’s lawyer, Oladipo Opeseyi asked for an order to allow the witnesses to be called with false names, that is not with their actual names, while they give evidence.

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The reason for the government’s request was on the ground that Dasuki, being a former NSA and a top retired army officer, who at the same time is a prince in the Sokoto Caliphate, have large followings of people all over Nigeria, who could be angered based on the trial. The federal government added that securing the lives of those to testify is paramount, as they their lives could be endangered if they testify in the public without protection, thus, the need to use pseudo-names for them. In support of the government’s motion and in a five paragraph affidavit submitted by one Emmanuel Ikpebe, the federal government verified that Dasuki worked in the intelligence unit of the military, and that a huge number of arms and ammunition were found at his home, when searched, not just only that, but different foreign currencies in which he could not explain how he came about them.

While responding to the government’s submission, Joseph Daodu, counsel to the former NSA, asked Justice Adeniyi Ademola that he needed some time to reply to the motion, which he was just served. Daodu’s prayers were granted, and Justice Ademola, thereafter adjourned the case till June 23 and 24 for further hearing. Relatedly, two former ministers who served in the last administration were interrogated by the EFCC over $115billion public fund allegedly deployed for the 2015 general election by Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Source: NAIJ