Again Ex-NSA Dasuki Floors FG in Court
... Court Dismisses FG Application on Dasuki
A
Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the application of the
Federal Government seeking to compel the presence of the former National
Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Mohammed Dasuki in court throughout
his trial.
In
defiance of previous court order, Department of State Security (DSS)
has so refused to vacate the Abuja residence of Dasuki and preventing
him from traveling for medical treatment. The operatives have placed him
on restriction, as they lay siege to his Abuja home for more than three
weeks.
The
Federal Government through the Director of the Public Prosecution of
the Federation (DPPF) Mr Mohammed Diri who filed the application argued
that Dasuki was wrong in law by staying away from court for three
consecutive times the case against him came up in court.
He
cited section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 as
a law that makes presence of Dasuki mandatory in court at all times.
But
delivering ruling in the application, Justice Adeniyi Ademola dismissed
it for being frivolous, unwarranted and lacking in merit. Justice
Ademola agreed with counsel to Dasuki, Mr Joseph Daudu SAN that the law
was turned upside down by the Federal Government counsel for no just
cause.
The
Judge who read out the section 266 of the Administration of Criminal
Justice Act 2015 held that the law was so clear that the presence of an
accused person can be dispensed with in court during interlocutory
applications.
He
agreed that since only interlocutory applications were being argued in
court presently, the presence of Dasuki was not mandatory in court for
now.
The
former NSA had filed an application before the Judge to permit his
absence in court for now in view` of the alleged threat to his life in
the hands of operatives of the Federal Government security agents who
have laid sieges around his Abuja residence for more than three weeks.
Meanwhile,
hearing in another application filed by Federal Government seeking
court order to revoke the bail earlier granted Dasuki has been fixed for
December 3.
The
application could not be heard yesterday as Justice Ademola said he was
being expected at the on-going Judges Conference being held in Abuja.
The
application filed by Mr Diri is asking the court to commit the former
NSA to prison pending the completion of investigation into money
laundering allegations against him.
He
also opposed the permission granted Dasuki by Justice Ademola to travel
abroad for three weeks to treat his ailment adding that the NSA will
escape justice if allowed to go abroad.
Dasuki’s
lawyers led by Mr Joseph Daudu SAN have however filed objection to the
application on the ground that it was baseless and speculative.
They urged Justice Ademola to dismiss the application.
By PRNigeria
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