ABUJA – The Federal Government, yesterday, asked the
Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to revoke the bail
it granted the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col.
Sambo Dasuki, retd.
The government, in an application it filed pursuant to
section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,
2015, sought for an order committing the former NSA to
prison pending his trial.
It will be recalled
that though
Dasuki was on
September 1,
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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