Former Nigerian National Security Advisor skips court

The Nigerian government has been ordered to produce former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, in court on February 16 to answer criminal charges filed against him.

He is accused of defrauding the former government of over $68 million of defence spending, part of a wider $2.1 billion in arms deals under his scrutiny.

Most of the funds alleged to have been misused were earmarked for the fight against Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has killed thousands in northeast Nigeria in the last seven years.

According to information revealed by Nigeria’s Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, dozens of Nigerian officials and state employees have allegedly stolen $6.8 billion from public funds during the previous administration between 2006 and 2013.

The trial is expected to put the spotlight on Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, who has lived to his election promise to fight corruption in Africa’s largest economy where the vice is endemic.

However, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) , now the main opposition party has accused President Buhari of conducting a witch hunt against its members.