Former national security adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki(retd.) is one of 55 people the Federal Government claims stole more than $6 billion between 2006 and 2013. He is under investigation and has remained in custody as he is facing 3 trials in connection with looting billions of naira meant for purchase of arms for the Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram insurgents. Though granted bail in December 2015, Dasuki has remained in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Defence lawyer Joseph Daudu told AFP that Dasuki is being denied the right to a fair trial and that all 3 cases against him should be dismissed. “There’s really no way he can get a fair trial in the circumstances,” Daudu said to AFP. Daudu could however not “confirm or deny” the rumour that Dasuki reportedly arrested Muhammadu Buhari at gunpoint when he(Buhari) was overthrown in a 1985 coup while serving as head of military government. The defence lawyer further told AFP that there is “no love lost” between his client and Buhari. On the trial, the defence lawyer vowed if necessary, the matter will progress to the Supreme Court.