FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TURNS CO-ACCUSED WITH DASUKI AS PROSECUTION WITNESS AGAINST HIM

Penpushing also reports that, Dasuki who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, was re-arraigned along with a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa; his son, Sagir Dalhatu; and their family company, Dalhatu Investment Limited.

The former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda was alleged to have dishonestly misappropriated a whooping sum of $9.8 million, an equivalent of N1.9billion and another N200 million he allegedly transferred to the bank account of Jabbama Ada Global Services, an offense punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act.

Similarly, on their part, Messrs Bafarawa, Sagir and Dalhatu Investment were charged with dishonestly receiving N4.6 billion from the office of Dasuki, an offense punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

Penpushing, however, gathered that,aside the five defendants, prominent politicians were named in the charge as beneficiaries of the alleged public fund diversion.

They are a former governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja; former Chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention, Tom Ikimi; and one Robert Azibola, a cousin of former President Jonathan as well as former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim.

However, all the five defendants pleaded not guilty to the amended charge dated May 11 and signed by Chile Okoroma, Director of Legal and Prosecution Department of the EFCC.

Meanwhile, Justice Baba-Yusuf has adjourned trial of the defendants to July 9 and 10.