Sambo Dasuki
Former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) who is standing trial over allegations of illegal possession of arms before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has filed a preliminary objection challenging the application by the Federal Government to revoke the bail earlier granted to him by the court.
He claimed that the Federal Government move was in bad taste and in utter disregard to an earlier order that granted him permission to travel abroad to treat his ailment as a Nigerian Citizen.
Dasuki appeal to the Judge to dismiss the move in order to protect the integrity of the court and the rule of law as enshrined in the constitution that all parties in any dispute must obey court order.
At the resumed trial, Prosecution Counsel, Oladipo Okpeseyitan SAN informed the court that he has two applications seeking to revoke the bail earlier granted to the accused person by the court and another application seeking to stop the further execution of the order of the court directing that the passport of the accused person be released to him.
He however told the court that he was constrained in moving the application as he was served with the Defendant’s objection in court and needed time to respond to it.
He subsequently applied for an adjournment.
Counsel to Dasuki, Joseph Daudu SAN did not oppose the application on ground the Prosecution is entitled to adequate time to enable him respond to the objections raised by him.
After listening to the parties, the trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola adjourned till January 20, 2016 for the hearing of the preliminary objection.
The Federal Government had at the last adjourned date employed the services of Okpeseyitan SAN, a private lawyer to prosecute Dasuki.
Okpeseyitan on that day informed the court that he had filed a motion for stay of execution of the ruling of the court which granted Dasuki permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
He further applied to the court to put the ruling on hold pending the outcome of the appeal in the matter.
Dasuki’s counsel, Ahmed Raji SAN in his reply then told the court that he had just been served with the motion, adding that he needed time to respond to the motion.
Dasuki had also stated then that he did not at any point make a statement implicating anyone or group in the allegation of $2billion arms purchase deal brought against him by the Federal Government.
Raji said his client never made such statement or name anyone to EFCC and wondered where the authors got their information from.
“Quote me anywhere, Dasuki has not done anything like that. It is absolutely untrue. It is the figment of the imagination of the author aimed at creating falsehood for reasons best known to them and Nigerians should disregard them.
“They are just out to scandalize the man, bring his image and character into disrepute so that his friends and we’ll wishers can run away from him. They want him deserted and that will fail”, he stated.
