The former National
Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd was on September 1, 2015 granted
bail by the high court on self-recognition, however, trial Justice Ademola Adeniyi,
on November 13, while granting the defendant leave to travel abroad for medical
treatment, varied his bail condition.
Justice Adeniyi ordered the
erstwhile NSA to produce a surety that must be ready to face prosecution should
he (Dasuki), go into hiding after his medical treatment in the United Kingdom.
The court further directed
the release of his hitherto seized traveling documents, saying Dasuki should
return same to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Litigation of the high court within
72 hours of his return from the three weeks medical trip.
It was the order that the
government yesterday asked the court to vacate by revoking the bail that was
granted to the defendant.
Meantime, the Attorney
General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami,
yesterday, failed to honour the summon that was issued for him to appear before
court to explain why Dasuki has remained under house arrest despite the leave
granted for him to travel for medical treatment.
Though Justice Adeniyi
specifically ordered the AGF to appear before him yesterday, however, the
Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, announced appearance on
his behalf.
Diri told the court that he
was eminently qualified to represent the AGF in the matter, contending that no
contempt proceeding is pending against the AGF.
The DPP rather queried the
continued absence of Dasuki in court, even as he urged the court to order his
appearance at the next adjourned date.
The position of the DPP
infuriated Dasuki’s lawyers led by Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, who accused the AGF
of having little regard for the court.
Daudu insisted that the AGF
ought to have shown respect to the court by obeying the summon on him, noting
that the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr. Taiwo Abidogun, had at the
last adjourned date, entered an undertaking that the AGF would be in court
yesterday.
Meantime, while agreeing
with Dasuki’s lawyers that the AGF ought to have appeared in court yesterday,
Justice Adeniyi, fixed November 26 to determine the merit of FG’s application
for bail revocation.
On why the bail should be
revoked, FG, yesterday, told the court that Dasuki is undergoing investigation
by the committee auditing procurement of arms/equipment in the Armed Forces and
Defence Sector from 2007 to date.
It said that an interim
report of the committee showed that over $2 billion was allegedly embezzled and
that Dasuki’s presence is required to assist in further investigation.
“That
there is a federal government directive for the arrest of all those indicted by
the report, including the defendant (Dasuki) and that the ongoing investigation
which borders on money laundering against the defendant has not been concluded
and there is fear that investigation might be tempered with on account of
foreign visit by the respondent before the completion of investigation”, Diri
stated in the application.
He added also that the
ailment for which permission was given to Dasuki to travel to the United
Kingdom for treatment can be properly treated in the National Hospital, Abuja
and other teaching hospital in Nigeria.
Besides, FG, told the court
that there is an intelligence report that Dasuki has concluded plans to take
the advantage of the court order releasing his International Passport to escape
justice and tamper with ongoing investigations.
Daudu objected to the
application, contending that FG could not pray the court for such relief when
it has refused to obey a subsisting order of the court.
Daudu argued that the
federal government should not be granted any indulgence by the court until it
stops the siege to Dasuki’s home.
In a fundamental right
enforcement application he filed before the court, Dasuki who is facing a
five-count criminal charge bordering on money laundering and his alleged
illegal possession of firearms, wants and order directing FG and operatives of
the DSS to vacate his house located at 13, John Kadija Street, Asokoro with
immediate effect.
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