‘Dasuki under probe for 22 years old offence’
• DSS investigates ex-NSA’s breach of service law
• Sambo’s aide confesses to receiving N25m from Metuh
FORMER National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, has not been able to enjoy the bail granted him after meeting prescribed conditions because he was rearrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) over offences he allegedly committed while serving in the Nigerian Army.
This was revealed when counsel to Dasuki, Joseph Daudu (SAN) and counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the matter, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) were addressing the court on a motion praying for the release of Dasuki.
During proceedings, the prosecution disclosed that the DSS, another security agency of the Federal Government had rearrested Dasuki on the grounds that it was investigating the former NSA on alleged breach of service law when he was in the army. This reveals that the embattled former NSA is being held for offences allegedly committed 22 years after he left service in 1994.
The prosecution counsel, who claimed to be representing the EFCC in the instant case said: “Dasuki was a fugitive for seven years and he is being investigated for series of alleged offences he committed when he was in the army.” He, however, advised Dasuki to evoke section 46 of the constitution and institute a civil action to challenge his arrest and enforce his fundamental right to his liberty.
Earlier, the defence counsel (Daudu), in a motion, urged the court to prohibit the government from further prosecuting Dasuki or seeking any indulgence from the court until the bail granted him was allowed to be enjoyed, saying that the accused had not been allowed to enjoy bail granted him by different courts of justice, a situation he described as constituting contempt of the court.
The defense counsel also asked Justice Baba-Yusuf to discharge the defendant of all offences contained in the charge against Dasuki on the grounds that the government could not lawfully prosecute Dasuki having been in contempt of the court.
Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf fixed February 8, 2016, to rule on whether to discharge Dasuki of the criminal charges preferred against him.
Meanwhile, a witness in an going trial of the Spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, said he was paid N25 million to help control criticisms in the traditional and social media against former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The witness, Abba Dabo, and former Special Adviser on Political Matters to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, while testifying before the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Okon Abang, said the money had since been deposited with the EFCC.
The decision to return the money, he said, was taken when he thought it could be part of the funds meant for arms purchase but was allegedly diverted for other purposes by Dasuki. According to him, the money was paid by Metuh on December 16, 2014, through Destra Investment Limited account into his personal account.
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17 Comments
This sounds childish and has every treat of a fabricated evidence. No wonder EFCC hardly wins cases in court.
I knew this Dasuki’s case would hit a brick wall cos we have a vindictive, senile, and clueless t who disobeys court orders and an anti-graft organisation which is being used to settle old scores. Nonsense.
Dasuki is just being persecuted by the powers that be and no longer on the basis of any fraudulent embezzlement of funds.
Na wao
Why the delay in delivery of judgment in all the cases involving Dasuki? Why did EFCC not bring him to court as at when due thereby forcing the judge to adjourn the case? I think the EFCC and the court have enough evidences to deliver judgment in all these cases either for or against Dasuki. To me the offence committed by former NSA is a capital offence because he diverted for personal and political purposes money meant for procurement of arms for the military to be able to fight insurgency in the North-East thereby making Boko Haram to have upper hands over Nigerian military. So many of our soldiers have also lost their lives during the process. So why sparing the life of Col. Sambo Dasuki and his accomplices?
Hmmm….I see the verdict has been decided already.
U see that is the problem of Efcc and Buharis government! You can’t fight lawlessness with lawlessness it will cancel each other out! Assuming they granted him d bail and seized his international passport, he cannot run anywhere! Then place him on secret watch allow him his freedom of movement within Nigeria! Then the government can continue the trial without any hitches! Now look at it, he wants to quash all charges against him because buhari has given a reason and legal stance to do so! They should learn to fight criminality with law! A bail does not mean he is free or the trial has been discontinued!!!
I wonder why Guardian newspaper is being used as a platform for retrogressive point of view, relevant questions to ask in the Dasuki case are, did he misappropriate over two billion dollars meant for arms to fight Boko Haram? If he did does he need to be punished? We should not always apply sentiments to issue relating to nation building. Dasuki should be tried and if he not guilty he should be released but if he is, he must be sent to jail. The issue of re-arresting Dasuki or not releasing him on bail is a separate case enterly, if law agencies refuse to obey court order, the right thing is to hold them in contempt of court and apportion the right punishment. We need to learn not to mix unrelated issues, if Dasuki committed a crime, he must face the music and nothing less.
How is Guardian newspapers being used? They reported what transpired in court. EFCC lawyer says DSS re-arrested Dasuki for a crime he committed while he was in the army (which was 22 years ago). This statement is news. Are you saying it should not be reported? Was it not the argument that was presented by the EFCC lawyer as a defense for why Dasuki was not released on bail?
We should all sing the song that Dasuki is guilty and no matter the carnival in court, no one should report it cos Tayo believes that reporting it amounts to being used to issue a retrospective point of view. First is that this is a court established by law and has legal parameters to operate within. Second is that Guardian is reporting what was said in court and not some fabricated news or quoting some unnamed source.
Please show us where in this publication that Guardian has not displayed professionalism in its reporting. Why are we being so sensational in all of these? Until the court finds him guilty, he is presumed innocent, no matter how heinous the crime.
While we should not condone crime and impunity, we should be very careful that we also build a strong base for obtaining appropriate sanctions against infractions. Bode George was jailed for contract splitting and disobeying the directives of the FEC, which were crimes unknown to the Criminal Code, and what happened when he appealed the decision, it was thrown out, so much so that the government has not bothered to appeal the decision.
Anytime you charge someone to court and you disobey court orders or pile on more charges, you are arming the defence to put up all sorts of claims and counterclaims, file motions, and exploit the rules of court. This is the situation in Dasuki’s case. Several charges have been dropped and new ones filed, till date the issue of bail is still front burner. Now EFCC is the body telling the court that the Army is charging or investigating Dasuki over an offence he committed while in the army.
The army has not filed a charge, but EFCC that has no business with the army and its rules of conduct is the one telling the court about it.
Tayo Akin, please tell me that we read the same story or have been watching the same drama. Who is really delaying the trial over the main isue of $2.1bn arms scandal?
Tayo Akin, one does not know whether to laugh at or pity your ignorance.
So many people have died because of Boko Haram, some girls are still missing because of Boko Haram, some soldiers court martial because of Boko Haram, properties have been lost because of Boko Haram, many families displaced because of Boko Haram. If you happen to have family ties with any of the people would you not have eaten Dasuki raw for diverting the money that was supposed to be used to buy ammunitions to fight Boko Haram? I want you to just close your eyes for a moment and imagine how victims of Boko Haram feels. … “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.
I agree with you. Now let us close our eyes and imagine how victims of tragic road accidents, plane crashes, cholera, infant mortality and bad education. Yes…bad, education feel when the funds meant for development of those areas were diverted. We will hopefully see those responsible in court soon….?
No sympathy whatsoever for Dasuki. He deserves all he’s getting. These fat lawyers have mastered how to delay or evade justice. The security forces too are getting clever. Any one who does not bat an eyelid about loss of innocent lives especially soldiers who are just doing their job to keep the country safe, they too deserve no sympathy.
WITCH HUNTING…! Simple.
Dasuki must be punished at worst for arms procurement scandal! Many soldiers have died ‘cos of no weapons to defend themselves, many Nigerians that should have been protected by the soldiers if the soldiers were armed and we’ll equipped.
desperation move…
We will review and take appropriate action.