The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a request by the Department of State Services (DSS) to tender unlisted exhibits in the ongoing trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), over alleged unlawful possession of firearms.
Justice Peter Lifu, in a ruling on Wednesday, dismissed the DSS application seeking to admit several bunches of vehicle keys said to have been recovered from Dasuki's Abuja residences.
The judge held that the exhibits were not included in the proof of evidence, as required by law, and were therefore inadmissible.
He ruled that the application was "unmeritorious" and contravened Section 397 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, as well as Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Evidence Act.
Justice Lifu recalled that on July 10 and October 14, 2025, he had delivered rulings refusing to admit certain vehicles as exhibits in the same trial after finding them irrelevant and inadmissible.
He maintained that it would be improper for the court to admit the vehicle keys when the vehicles themselves had already been rejected.
Agreeing with Dasuki's counsel, Mr. A. A. Usman, the judge held that allowing the DSS to tender the keys would amount to "blowing hot and cold" and "approbating and reprobating" at the same time, an inconsistency the law does not permit.
"Apart from the fact that the bunches of vehicle keys were not listed on the proof of evidence as required by law, the vehicles themselves have been outrightly rejected as exhibits," Justice Lifu stated.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to December 1, 2, and 3 for continuation of trial, during which the DSS is expected to present in court various sums of money allegedly recovered from Dasuki's home.
The adjournment, granted at the joint request of both the prosecution and defense, will enable the DSS to retrieve the deposited funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Justice Lifu, however, directed the DSS to ensure it concludes its case before the end of the year, after which Dasuki will open his defense.