Dasuki
FG vs Ex-NSA: Dasuki Wins Round One on the Release of Passport
... Court Grants Dasuki Permission To Travel For Medical Reasons
The
immediate past National Security Adviser(NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd)
has floored the Federal Government and Department of State Service (DSS)
in one of the first ruling of Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in
Abuja, which granted his application for speedy and urgent medical
treatment abroad.
The presiding judge, Justice
Adeniyi Ademola in his ruling, dismissed the counter argument by the
Prosecuting Counsel, opposing Dasuki's need for medical check-up outside
the country.
Justice AdemoIa held that in
criminal trial an accused person is assumed innocent until proven guilty
and that a citizens health is very paramount in any trial case and
before the law.
He therefore ordered for the
release of the applicant's international passports to enable "him to
attend three-weeks medical treatment".
The
presiding judge also "ordered the registrar to release the passport to
the defendant with a caveat that "when the defendant returns he must
submit his passport within the 72 hours to the Court Registrar".
The
former NSA was first charged on Monday August 24, 2015 on a one count
charge of illegal possession of firearms but was immediately granted
bail on self recognition with Justice Ademola ordering the DSS to
submit his seized passport to the court registrar.
On
the day of the hearing, the prosecutors brought additional charges
bordering on possession of local and foreign currencies against Sambo
Dasuki and also sought for Secret Trial of the case.
Concerned
about his ill-health, Dasuki asked the court for the release of his
travel passport to enable him attend to his personal health issues
abroad and as well objected to the secret trial requested by the federal
government, preferring open trial of the case for the benefit of the
public.
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