Witness testifies to authentic mandate in Dasuki trial
In a significant development in the high-profile trial of former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, a witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told an Abuja High Court on Tuesday that the payment mandates made to two companies in the case were “duly signed by Dasuki” himself.
Dasuki is facing an amended 32-count charge of alleged criminal breach of trust, dishonest release of funds and receiving various sums totalling N33.2 billion from the accounts of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Details of the charges and evidence presented
According to the prosecution, Dasuki, along with other defendants including a former General Manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and two private companies — Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited — are accused of releasing large sums from ONSA’s operations account into the companies’ accounts under questionable mandates.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the EFCC witness, Detective Adariku Michael, explained that the investigation team wrote to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to verify the registration status of companies linked to the defendants. The CAC responses, introduced into evidence, revealed that the second defendant owned the two companies charged and that they were used as channels for the disputed funds.
Further, Michael testified that payment mandate instructions were directed to banks such as Zenith Bank, instructing the debiting of ONSA’s operations account with sums like N600 million and N750 million to credit Acacia Holdings’ account at United Bank for Africa (UBA). These mandates, the witness said, bore Dasuki’s actual signature.
Defendants’ response and next steps in court
Dasuki and his co-defendants — including the former NNPC manager and the two companies — have pleaded not guilty to the charges. During the hearing, their counsels reserved their objections and requested the evidence be subjected to further scrutiny.
Justice Charles Agbaza adjourned the matter until January 13, 2026, for continuation of the hearing. The court also accepted the CAC documents into evidence as they were unchallenged by the defence.
Implications for Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts
The case is widely seen as a test of Nigeria’s capacity to prosecute high-level corruption involving government security expenditure. Given the magnitude of the alleged misappropriation, observers say the outcome will have significant implications for public trust in the accountability of national security funds.
The EFCC’s detailed presentation of documentary and bank-mandate evidence signals a firm approach to financial forensic investigations, particularly those involving state security apparatus. Analysts view the admission that Dasuki personally signed the mandate as a strong moment in the prosecution’s case.
What happens next
As the trial progresses, the defence is expected to challenge the authenticity of the mandates, the chain of signatures, and the exact accountability of the funds. Meanwhile, the prosecution will likely present further technical evidence, including bank records and financial trails linked to the companies.
For the Nigerian public and the broader governance community, the case remains one to watch — not only for its legal outcome but for the precedent it may set in how public office-holders are held accountable for large-scale fund disbursements.
