The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dasuki

  • Dasuki: Court invites AGF 

    Dasuki: Court invites AGF 

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday invited the Attorney -General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), over the inability of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), to travel abroad on health ground.

    The court’s invitation to the AGF followed complaint by Dasuki’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), that despite the order made by the court on November 3, allowing Dasuki to travel abroad, he was being prevented from embarking on the trip by security agents, who allegedly laid siege on his Abuja home.

    A lawyer from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Labaran Magaji, denied Daudu’s claim that the state had prevented his client from travelling abroad as ordered by the court.

    Ruling, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who expressed concern about Daudu’s complaint that officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) have frustrated the execution of the November 4 order, said since the AGF is new in office  it is necessary to invite him for briefing on issues surrounding the case.

    “Having perused the processes filed by the applicant, particularly the motion on notice dated 9th November 2015 and the respondent’s counter processes, it is important that the Attorney General of the Federation, being the chief law officer of the country, comes to court for briefing about the issue,” the judge said.

    Justice Ademola noted that from the fresh motion on notice and counter affidavit filed by parties in the case, he was not happy about the scenario playing out.

    The judge said he was uncomfortable that the court’s subsisting order was reportedly not obeyed.

    He adjourned to November 16 for hearing of the new motion and counter-motions filed by parties.

     

     

  • Court to DSS: Allow Dasuki to travel for treatment

    Court to DSS: Allow Dasuki to travel for treatment

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Department of State Services (DSS), to allow a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), to travel abroad for medical attention.

    Dasuki is seeking the enforcement of the court’s earlier order which gave him three-week permission to seek medical treatment abroad.

    Ruling on the matter Friday, Justice A‎demola Adeniyi, insisted that the ex-NSAmust be allowed to travel without delay.

    “Court order must be obeyed. What is wrong in the defendant travelling and coming back to face trial?

    “Only a fit person can stand for trial and investigation. My own orders will not be flouted,” the judge ruled.

  • Dasuki asks court to compel DSS to vacate his residence 

    Dasuki asks court to compel DSS to vacate his residence 

    The immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Mohammed Dasuki (rtd), yesterday filed a suit at the Federal High Court sitting  in Abuja, seeking an order to compel security operatives to vacate his residence.

    The ex-NSA is needed to explain his role in the $2billion arms procurement during the Jonathan administration.

    He asked the court to compel  the Federal Government and its agents, especially the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) to vacate his house  at 13, John Kadija Street, Asokoro with immediate effect.

    In a Motion on Notice by his counsel, Mr Ahmed Adeniyi Raji (SAN), Dasuki sought the following reliefs:

    • An order dispensing with a further appearance of the defendant/ applicant in the proceedings conducted in this case, save for specific circumstances in which this Honourable Court so directs; or at least for an order dispensing with his appearance for the purposes of hearing this application.
    • An order of this Honourable Court extending its order of 9th November, 2015 wherein leave was granted the defendant/ applicant to travel abroad for the treatment of his ailing medical condition.
    • A mandatory order directing the Federal Government and any other agency acting on its behalf, particularly the Department of State Services to forthwith remove all human and non-human barricades, bulwarks and or siege laid around, about and across the defendant/ applicant’s residence at No.13 John Kadiya Street, Asokoro District, Abuja.

    Brought  pursuant to section 36(5) 37 and 41 of the 1999 constitution and sections 1(1) and (2) and 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the ex NSA , in his motion, also urged the court to extend its  order of November 3 permitting treatment of his ailment abroad.

    He claimed that the Federal Government acting through the operatives of the SSS and other security agencies have frustrated the said order by barricading his apartment since the permission was granted.

    The ex-NSA also requested the court to extend the order of Number 3 since it could not be implemented due to the action of the security agents.

    Dasuki asked the court to dispose with his appearance in court for the purpose of this application because of the alleged constant threats to his life from the security agencies.

    In a 13-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, Dasuki claimed that following the order of November 3 permitting him to go abroad for medical attention, he immediately purchased his travel ticket and boarding pass issued to him to accomplish the trip.

    He averred that shortly after, the operatives of the SSS acting on behalf of the Federal Government stormed and barricaded his house at Asokoro in brazen defiance of the court order and prevented him from traveling out. No date has been fixed for heap of the suit.

  • $2b arms deal: DSS writes counsel to produce Dasuki

    $2b arms deal: DSS writes counsel to produce Dasuki

    After a five-day siege to his home without securing their subject, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) has written to the counsel of former National Security Adviser (NSA)  Sambo Dasuki to produce his client for interrogation.

    It was learnt that the DSS wrote to Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN) at the weekend on why he should convince his client to appear for interrogation.

    The DSS wants to question the ex-NSA, who allegedly refused to cooperate with the presidential panel probing the $2 billion aram purchase deal during his tenure.

    But the ex-NSA claimed that he was never invited by the panel.

    Dasuki, who remained under house arrest for five days, has, however, decided to return to court today to seek an order directing the DSS to vacate his home.

    The DSS, according to investigation, wrote the letter to the lawyer after Dasuki refused to allow DSS operatives into his home to deliver a letter inviting him for interrogation.

    The two parties have been communicating through aides and Dasuki’s househelp.

    As at yesterday, DSS operatives were still at the entrance of the ex-NSA’s home

    A source said: “The DSS wrote a letter on Saturday to Daudu (SAN) on why he should convince his client to meet with its director-general.

    “I think the DSS is technically shifting the responsibility of producing Dasuki to the counsel. “It is unclear if the counsel will handover his client to the DSS and on what terms.

    “But the challenge facing the DSS is a subsisting order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which has granted leave to Dasuki to travel out for medical treatment in London.

    “The security agency, however, said Dasuki is wanted in connection with a different case bordering on the investigation of the $2 billion arms deal.

    “The court order has prevented the DSS from barging into Dasuki’s home.”

    Meanwhile, Dasuki may return to court today for intervention to end the siege to his home.

    He is also asking three other reliefs: an order directing the DSS from stopping him from travelling abroad; renewal of the three weeks’ allowed by the court to go for medical treatment and enforcement of his fundamental rights.

    A close source in the legal team said: “We are going to court on Monday because the freedom of our client has been breached. He cannot even step out of his house; he cannot travel abroad for treatment. He is virtually under house arrest.

    “You know it is absurd when you are made a prisoner in your own home. If Dasuki attempts to go out, he will be arrested by the DSS. And if the DSS operatives break into his home without any warrant from the court, it will amount to illegality.

    “We got a letter from the DSS; we are also sending our response on Monday before 9am.”

  • Fed Govt opposes Dasuki’s request for foreign trip

    Fed Govt opposes Dasuki’s request for foreign trip

    •DPP plans fresh money
    laundering charges against NSA

    THE Federal Government yesterday urged a Federal High Court in Abuja not to accede to the request by former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki for the release of his travel documents to enable him travel abroad.

    Dasuki, a retired colonel, is on trial for alleged money laundering and illegal arms possession.

    Director of Public Prosecutions Muhammad Diri told the court that granting Dasuki’s prayer was injurious to the prosecution, which is planning to bring additional money laundering charges against Dasuki.

    Diri opposed Dasuki’s application for the release of his passport to enable him travel to the United Kingdom on health grounds.

    “The defendant is also being investigated in respect of other offences of money laundering by the security department.

    “On this point, I refer your Lordship to paragraph 4 of our counter-affidavit showing that the defendant is also being investigated for other money laundering offences,” Diri said.

    Dasuki is on trial on a five-count of illegal possession of firearms and money laundering involving about N84.6 million.

    Dasuki’s lawyer Joseph Daudu (SAN) argued that the “speculative possibility that more charges will be filed against the defendant” could not be the basis for denying his client the opportunity to seek treatment abroad.

    “They (the prosecution) are saying that his travelling out may interfere with the proposed charges,” Daudu said.

    Daudu, while relying on sections 36(5) and 36(6) of the Constitution and Section 173(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, urged the court to consider the decision of the Court of Appeal in a similar application by former Delta State Governor James Ibori and grant his client’s application.

    He said the application was informed by the need for his client to keep an earlier appointment with a UK hospital, in view of his “deteriorating health conditions”.

    The lawyer contended that the prosecution’s claim that the treatment for which Dasuki was seeking permission to travel abroad was available in Nigeria could not sway the court to reject his application.

    “That is not the grounds, with greatest respect, for the court to refuse the application,” Daudu said.

    He said the prosecution’s view about the seizure of the defendant’s passport as being punitive was erroneous.

    Daudu prayed the court to grant his client’s request.

    He added that a defendant was presumed innocent and was still entitled to right to free movement until proved guilty.

    In his reply, Diri said Dasuki’s case was different from Ibori’s, which Daudu relied on.

    The DPP noted that in Ibori’s case, other conditions were attached to the bail granted the ex-governor, as against the case with Dasuki, where the confiscation of his travel documents by the court was the only bail condition.

    He contended that acceding to Dasuki’s request to travel abroad for three weeks would delay the trial, noting that the ailment for which Dasuki seeks foreign treatment could be handled at the National Hospital, Abuja.

    But neither Diri nor Daudu disclosed the ailment for which Dasuki seeks foreign treatment.

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola adjourned to today for ruling on the application.

    The judge may also deliver ruling on the prosecution’s application for the trial to be conducted outside the public view.

     

  • FG opposes Dasuki’s request for foreign trip

    FG opposes Dasuki’s request for foreign trip

    The Federal Government on Monday urged a Federal High Court in Abuja not to accede to the request by former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, for the release of his travel documents to enable him travel abroad.

    Dasuki, a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, is standing trial for illegal possession of firearms and money laundering of about N84.6million.

    The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Muhammad Diri told the court on Monday that granting Dasuki’s prayer was injurious to the prosecution, who was planning to bring additional money laundering charges against the ex-NSA.

    Diri opposed Dasuki’s application for the release of his passport to enable him to travel to the United Kingdom on health grounds.

    “The defendant is also being investigated for money laundering by the security department.

    “On this point, I refer your Lordship to paragraph 4 of our counter-affidavit showing that the defendant is also being investigated for other money laundering offences,” Diri said.

    Earlier, Dasuki’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), argued that the “speculative possibility that more charges will be filed against the defendant” could not be the basis for denying him the opportunity to seek medical attention abroad.

    “They (the prosecution) are saying that his travelling out may interfere with the proposed charges,” Daudu said.

     

  • Dasuki: I’m not guilty

    Dasuki: I’m not guilty

    •Trial opens October 26

    Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Sambo Dasuki was arraigned yesterday before a Federal High Court in Abuja by the Federal Government.

    Dasuki was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on illegal possession of fire arms, an offence punishable under section 27(i) (a)(i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 LFN 2004 and which attracts 14 years jail term.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charge, following which the trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola granted him bail on self recognisance, upon an application by his lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

    Daudu said his client will neither abscond nor interfere with prosecution witnesses if granted bail, because the prosecution has said investigation has been concluded in the case.

    The prosecution lawyer, Mohammed Diri did not oppose the application for bail, but left the issue at the court’s discretion.

    Justice Ademola ordered Dasuki to deposit all his international passports with the court’s Deputy Registrar, Litigation. He ordered that the passports should be retrieved, if they are currently being held by other government agencies, and handed to the named court’s official.

    The judge fixed October 26 for the commencement of trial.

    Dressed in sky-blue kaftan and a cap, Dasuki arrived the court around 8.30am before even his lawyers and the prosecution team arrived the court. At the commencement of proceedings around 9.30am, Dasuki walked straight into the dock when the charge was called.

    Dasuki, who the judge permitted to sit in the dock, maintained a straight face throughout the proceedings that lasted about one hour.

    The prosecution said it intends to tender 10 sets of items recovered from Dasuki’s Abuja residence, located at John Khadiya Street, Asokoro by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS), who searched his houses both in Abuja and outside on July 16.

    The items include

    *Five Tavor riffles

    *20 magazines,

    *Five rifle slings

    *Five packets of rifle servicing kit,

    *One packet of MOD AP9 calibre 9mm Luger No: 033373

    *Small magazine containing 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition and bigger magazine containing 23 *Five rounds of 9mm ammunition.

    *One Macro Uzi with serial No 60244.

    *One magazine with 16 rounds of live 9mm ammunition

    *36 rounds of live 9mm ammunition.

    Some of the items were said to have been recovered from his Range Rover car with number plate Abuja RBC 517 JN.

  • Dasuki arraigned, granted bail on self-recognition

    Dasuki arraigned, granted bail on self-recognition

    Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, was arraigned on Tuesday morning before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    Dasuki was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on illegal possession of fire arms, an offence punishable under section 27(i) (a)(i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 LFN 2004.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charge, following which the trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, granted him bail on self recognition, upon an application filed by his lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

    The prosecution lawyer, M. S. Diri, did not oppose the application for bail, but left the issue at the court’s discretion.

    Justice Ademola ordered Dasuki to deposit all his international passports with the court’s Deputy Registrar, Litigation. He ordered that the passports should be retrieved, if they are currently being held by other government agencies, and handed to the named court’s official.

    Further hearing has been fixed for October 26.

  • Dasuki charged with illegal arms possession

    Dasuki charged with illegal arms possession

    •‘Ex-NSA held firearms without licence’

    The immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, was on Monday charged to court by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    A statement yesterday by the Acting spokesman of the DSS, Tony Opuiyo, said Dasuki was charged to court based on evidence relating to possession of firearms without licence.

    According to the statement, the offence is punishable under Section 27(i) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28LFN 2004.

    “This is in line with democratic practice and our avowed commitment to the rule of law, in which nobody is deemed to be above the law, no matter how highly placed in the society.

    “Accordingly, the general public will be duly informed as the matter progresses”, the statement added.

    The DSS on July 16, carried out a search on property belonging to Dasuki in Abuja and Sokoto.

    The search followed what the DSS described as credible intelligence linking the ex-NSA to acts capable of undermining national security.

    “The search led to the recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition among other things and for which further investigation was conducted”, the DSS said.

     

  • DSS charges Dasuki to court

    DSS charges Dasuki to court

    The immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, was on Monday charged to court by the Department of State Services (DSS).
    A statement on Monday by the Acting spokesman of the DSS, Tony Opuiyo, said Dasuki was charged to court based on evidence relating to possession of fire arms without license.
    According to the statement, the offence is punishable under Section 27(i) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28LFN 2004.
    “This is in line with democratic practice and our avowed commitment to the rule of law, in which nobody is deemed to be above the law, no matter how highly placed in the society.
    “Accordingly, the general public will be duly informed as the matter progresses”, the statement added.
    The DSS had, on July 16, 2015, carried out a search operation on properties belonging to Dasuki in Abuja and Sokoto.
    The search operation followed what the DSS described as credible intelligence linking the ex NSA him to acts capable of undermining national security.
    “The search led to the recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition among other things and for which further investigation was conducted”, the DSS said.