Dasuki’s 10-Year Trial Stalls Again As Court Slams FG Over Missing Witness

The long-drawn trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd), once again suffered a setback on Wednesday, as the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned proceedings following the absence of a key government witness.

Dasuki, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, is facing charges bordering on unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering in a case that has dragged on for a decade across three administrations.

At Wednesday’s sitting, the prosecution’s first witness, Monsur Mohammed, a Department of State Services (DSS) operative, was cross-examined by Dasuki’s counsel, A. A. Usman. Mohammed, who described himself as a Store Keeper with the DSS, admitted he had no personal license to bear firearms despite receiving training in handling arms during his 18 years of service.

Justice Peter Lifu, visibly irritated by the prosecution’s lack of preparedness, ordered the government’s legal team, led by Chief Oladipupo Okpeseyi (SAN), to call its next witness. But the team failed to produce the witness, claiming his mother was undergoing surgery in Abuja.

Although Justice Lifu initially allowed a brief stand-down, he grew impatient when Okpeseyi later sought a full adjournment. The judge sternly reminded the prosecution of his standing order that the case must be concluded within September 2025.

“This court cannot continue to indulge endless excuses. The government must put its house in order and bring its witnesses to court,” Justice Lifu warned before adjourning the case to Thursday, September 25.

The drawn-out proceedings highlight the Nigerian government’s struggle to advance its case against Dasuki, who has repeatedly insisted that his ordeal is politically motivated.

Dasuki, arrested in 2015 under the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, endured four years in detention despite multiple court orders granting him bail. His release in 2019 only came after mounting pressure from human rights advocates and international bodies.

Justice Lifu has fixed September 24, 25, and 26 for the prosecution to close its case by presenting all outstanding witnesses and exhibits. Once concluded, Dasuki is expected to open his defence.

The latest adjournment deepens questions about prosecutorial diligence in one of Nigeria’s most controversial and protracted trials, a case that has become emblematic of delayed justice, selective prosecution, and the politics of power in the country’s legal system.