The trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), over the alleged diversion of ₦33.2 billion meant for arms procurement resumed yesterday before Justice C.O. Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

At the hearing, the first prosecution witness, Dr. Michael Adariku, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), detailed how large sums of money were allegedly transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to private individuals and companies.

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Adariku told the court that on April 17, 2015, ₦600 million was transferred from an ONSA account domiciled with Zenith Bank to Acacia Holdings Limited’s account with UBA. He said the beneficiary account had a balance of only ₦27,094.49 prior to the transfer.

According to the witness, on April 23, 2015, ₦60 million was transferred to Hidayatul Atfaaf Islamic Academy. He said the proprietor, Mohammed Bashir, informed EFCC investigators that the money was a part payment for 3.62 hectares of land in Kyami District, Abuja, valued at ₦120 million and allegedly purchased by the second defendant, Aminu Baba Kusa, a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

On the same day, ₦25 million was paid in three tranches to Zavati Bureau De Change Limited. Adariku said investigations revealed the payment was part of the ₦40 million purchase price for a property, with the balance allegedly settled through Ibrahim Saleh Uba, described as an agent of the second defendant.

The witness further testified that on April 24, 2015, transfers amounting to ₦124 million were made from the ONSA account without any stated purpose.

He told the court that on April 27, 2015, additional payments included ₦600,157 for land-related charges in the FCT, ₦8.1 million for survey and beacon processing in various Abuja districts, and ₦50 million paid in five tranches to Squad Developers Nigeria Limited.

According to Adariku, the owner of Squad Developers, Sunday Gugu, confirmed that the ₦50 million was part payment for over 118 hectares of land in Kwali, Abuja, allegedly bought by the second defendant for ₦75 million.

The EFCC investigator also testified that on April 28, 2015, ₦55.9 million was transferred in six tranches to Fastman Investment Limited. He said the company’s chief executive, Farouk Suleiman, disclosed that the funds were meant to facilitate the transfer of $1 million to Saudi Arabia, but only $630,000 was eventually remitted.

Adariku added that further transfers were made through Reliance Referral Hospital Limited to cover the naira equivalent of the foreign exchange remitted.

He also told the court that on April 30, 2015, ₦4.86 million and ₦29.1 million were transferred to one O.A. Akinrimade, while ₦70 million was paid to Medical Practice Limited, allegedly owned by the wife of the second defendant. An additional ₦80 million was later transferred to the same company, bringing the total received to ₦150 million within a month.

The witness further revealed that ₦23.69 million was transferred to Namuduka Ventures Limited on May 15, 2015, converted to $200,000 and sent to a UK account linked to the second defendant. He said additional transfers exceeding ₦56.3 million were also converted to euros and transferred to foreign accounts associated with the defendant.

Justice Agbaza adjourned the case to January 14, 2026, for continuation of hearing.

Dasuki is standing trial alongside Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited on a 32-count charge bordering on breach of trust and dishonesty over the alleged diversion of public funds.