Dasuki Trial: EFCC witness details alleged ONSA fund transfers to private firms, foreign accounts
Proceedings in the trial of former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), resumed on January 13, 2026, before Justice C.O. Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, with the first prosecution witness presenting detailed testimony on the alleged movement of public funds to private beneficiaries.
Testifying as PW1, Dr. Michael Adariku, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), outlined multiple transactions involving funds allegedly transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to various companies and individuals. The witness was led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN.
Adariku told the court that on April 17, 2015, a sum of N600 million was transferred from an ONSA account domiciled with Zenith Bank to Acacia Holdings Limited’s account with the United Bank for Africa. He said the Acacia account had a balance of just N27,094.49 before the transfer.
According to the witness, further transfers followed in the days after. On April 23, 2015, N60 million was paid to Hidayatul Atfaaf Islamic Academy. EFCC investigations, he said, revealed that the proprietor, Mohammed Bashir, confirmed the payment was part of the purchase price for 3.62 hectares of land in Kyami District, Abuja, acquired by the second defendant, Aminu Baba Kusa, a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The same day, N25 million was allegedly transferred in tranches to Zavati BDC Limited. Adariku testified that EFCC investigations showed the funds were part payment for a property valued at N40 million, with the balance later settled through an intermediary identified as Ibrahim Saleh Uba.
The witness further told the court that on April 24, 2015, transfers amounting to N124 million were made without clear descriptions of their purpose. On April 27, additional payments included N600,157 to the Federal Capital Territory Administration for land-related charges, N8.1 million paid to a surveyor, and N50 million transferred to Squad Developers Nigeria Limited. EFCC investigations, he said, linked these transactions to land purchases made on behalf of the second defendant.
Adariku also testified that on April 28, 2015, a total of N55.9 million was transferred to Fastman Investment Limited. During EFCC interviews, the company’s chief executive, Farouk Suleiman, allegedly confirmed that part of the funds was used to facilitate the transfer of foreign currency to a client in Saudi Arabia, with only $630,000 eventually remitted.
The witness added that several other transfers followed, including payments to Medical Practice Limited, a company allegedly owned by the wife of the second defendant. He said that between April 1 and May 6, 2015, a cumulative sum of N150 million was transferred to the company.
According to Adariku, funds were also transferred to Namuduka Ventures Limited in May 2015 and converted into foreign currency before being sent to accounts linked to the second defendant in the United Kingdom. He told the court that additional naira payments from multiple companies were converted to euros and transferred to UK-based accounts associated with the defendant.
The witness further testified that other sums were converted and transferred to various foreign accounts in May 2015, following similar patterns.
Justice Agbaza adjourned the matter until January 14, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
Dasuki was re-arraigned by the EFCC on March 25, 2025, alongside Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited on a 32-count charge bordering on breach of trust and dishonest misappropriation of N33.2 billion.
