Sambo Dasuki Lands In More Trouble

Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was on Monday absent at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over the controversy surrounding the house arrest of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Mohammed Dasuki (retd).

He was expected to explain the reason behind the siege on Dasuki’s Abuja residence by the Department of State Services (DSS) in spite of the bail earlier granted him by the court.
But the AGF has gone ahead to file an application dated November 20, 2015 asking for an order revoking Dasuki’s bail application and committing him to prison pending his trial.

Dasuki was charged with unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering. He had pleaded not guilty.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola had ordered the release of Dasuki’s international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical attention.

While ruling on Dasuki’s application for the release of his travel document, the court held that in criminal trial, every suspect is presumed innocent and that every Nigerian has the right to access medication anywhere of his choice.

At the resumption of hearing of the matter, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the prosecution counsel, Mohammed Diri, applied for an order revoking Dasuki’s bail and commit him to prison.

Diri based his application on 7 grounds including intelligence report that Dasuki has concluded plans to by all means escape justice and tamper with investigation on procurement of arms and equipment.

He said the ailment for which permission was given to Dasuki to travel to the United Kingdom for treatment can be properly treated at the National Hospital, Abuja or any other teaching hospital in the country.

Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), lead counsel to Dasuki, objected to the prosecution’s application and reminded the court that the expectation was for the Federal Government to tell the court why its order was violated by the DSS by laying siege on Dasuki’s house after the court had granted his overseas trip.

Daudu said the essence of his preliminary objection is to deny the government any indulgence until the court order is obeyed and that Dasuki’s absence in court was justified as he has not violated any of his bail conditions.

Justice Ademola adjourned the matter to November 26 to rule of the applications.