RismadarVoice Reporters
January 14, 2026
A prosecution witness on Wednesday told an FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, how billions of naira meant for election security were allegedly diverted from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, to private individuals and companies.
Testifying before Justice C. O. Agbaza in the ongoing trial of former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), and four others, the witness, Dr. Michael Adariku, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, gave a detailed account of financial transactions traced by investigators.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Adariku said funds from ONSA were paid into a United Bank for Africa account belonging to Acacia Holdings Limited.
He told the court that analysis of the account revealed multiple transfers, including payments to private individuals, companies, and organizations, such as IBB Golf Club, Abuja Geographic Information Systems, and other beneficiaries.
According to the witness, large sums, including six hundred million naira and an additional two hundred million naira, were paid into Acacia Holdings’ accounts, while seven hundred and fifty million naira went to Reliance Referral Hospital Limited and six hundred and fifty million naira to another Acacia Holdings account, bringing the total traced sum to about two point two billion naira.
Dr. Adariku explained that the funds were part of a five billion naira transfer from a Central Bank of Nigeria account to the ONSA in April 2015, allegedly meant to provide security for the 2015 gubernatorial and state assembly elections.
However, he told the court that investigations showed the money was not used for that purpose but was instead diverted to businesses and personal interests linked to one of the defendants.
The witness further tendered documents tracing the transfers, including payment mandates allegedly signed by the former NSA and a senior ONSA official.
He also revealed that during investigations, one of the defendants honoured EFCC invitations, made statements in the presence of a lawyer.
However, attempts by the prosecution to tender the statement were opposed by defence lawyers, prompting the court to order a trial-within-trial to determine its admissibility.
Justice Agbaza has adjourned the case to February 24 and 25, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
The EFCC had re-arraigned Colonel Dasuki and others in March 2025 on a 32-count charge bordering on breach of trust and dishonest diversion of thirty-three point two billion naira.
