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Tag: DSS

  • Jonathan’s ex-aide Kuku loses bid to stop arrest

    Jonathan’s ex-aide Kuku loses bid to stop arrest

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Wednesday dismissed an application by a Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, from arresting him.

    Kuku had urged the court to restrain anti-corruption agencies from arresting and prosecuting him over allegations of corruption.

    But, Justice Okon Abang held that the application lacked merit.

    “This application lacks merit and is hereby dismissed. I so hold,” said the judge.

    Justice Abang refused Kuku’s prayer to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from arresting and probing him.

    The judge, however, said should Kuku be arrested, he should not be detained beyond 48 hours.

    Justice Abang said detaining Kuku beyond 48 hours would be in contravention of Section 35(4)(5) of the 1999 Constitution.

    According to the judge, ‎EFCC has a statutory obligation to investigate Kuku over alleged financial impropriety.

    The court also held that the anti-graft agency has the right to arrest Kuku if he refuses to honour invitation.

    The judge disagreed with the submission that any move to invite Kuku was politically motivated.

    After assuming jurisdiction in the case, Justice Abang held: ‎”It is in my humble view that the invitation sent to the applicant is lawful and constitutional.

    “The court cannot stop a statutory institution from performing it constitutional duty.”

    The court, however, restrained the respondents from arresting the applicant unlawfully, noting that his arrest must follow due process.

    Kuku sued the Attorney-General of the Federation, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the DSS and the Nigerian Immigration Service.

    He alleged there was “a plot by the respondents to concoct, fabricate or falsify evidence in order to provide a basis for the arrest, detention, persecution and/or prosecution of the applicant (Kuku) for political reasons…”

    According to him, it was “in furtherance of the unconscionable use of the otherwise laudable war against corruption to repress the political opposition constituted by the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including the applicant.”

    Kuku sought a declaration that any such invitation, arrest, harassment or prosecution on the basis of allegations of corruption in respect of his tenure as Chairman of the Amnesty Programme between 2011 and 2015 is a breach of his right to fair hearing and freedom of movement.

    Similarly, he sought an order prohibiting the respondents from arresting or prosecuting him on the basis of the allegations.

    The Auditor-General of the Federation had raised questions over alleged mismanagement of funds in reports of audit monitoring and evaluation of the amnesty programme.

    Kuku’s lawyer Mr Ajibola Oluyede said the respondents were about to abuse the criminal process by seeking to arrest his client.

    “There is an illegal and unjustifiable intigation of the criminal process against the applicant in a manner that infringes upon his fundamental rights enshrined in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution,” he said.

    But the AGF’s and IGP’s counsel, Mr Tijani Gazali, urged the court to dismiss Kuku’s application.

    He said Kuku was only invited to clear allegations of corruption against him, adding that there was no plot to violate his rights.

    “We only invited him to ensure his right to fair hearing. It was only an invitation. Instead, he has run to the court to be conferred with immunity so as not to be investigated. He was invited so as to tell his own side of the story,” Gazali said.

  • Adams denies receiving $22m from Ghadaffi

    Adams denies receiving $22m from Ghadaffi

    Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) National Coordinator Gani Adams has described calls for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe him as misguided.

    Some OPC state coordinators, at a briefing in Kwara State by Salami Olarewaju, urged EFCC to probe how over N1billion alleged got to Adam’s account.

    Adams, in a statement, said those who addressed the press conference were former OPC coordinators for Kwara, Ondo and Oyo states.

    He said the allegation that he collected N9billion from former President Goodluck Jonathan, and $22million from the late Libyan president, Mummar Ghadaffi, were unfounded.

    Adams said he has never set foot on Libya, nor has he ever met the late Ghadaffi or any of his agents at any time.

    He said when the issue first came up, he petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), informing them of the allegation and pleading with the Service to help investigate the source of the allegation in order to get to the root of the matter.

    “I want to once again plead with the DSS to, as a matter of urgency, make sure that these people who have accused me of this grave crime are made to prove the source of their allegation, and if they are not able to do so, should be made to face prosecution for their actions.

    “They should explain what the money is meant for and how it was sent to me. Such huge amount of money cannot be transferred to an individual secretly, so they need to do more explanation on how I allegedly received this money.

    “I am not a war mercenary, and I am not sure that Ghadaffi was a Father Christmas who would want to give out such money as a gift.

    “Our organisation is a peaceful socio-cultural group, with the sole aim of promoting the cultural heritage of Yoruba race,” Adams said.

    On N9 billion allegedly received from Jonathan, Adams said the claim is laughable because not even Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidates got such amount to prosecute their campaigns.

    He said the allegation was first made ahead of the general elections when it was alleged that his group got N9 billion for a pipelines surveillance contract.

    The OPC leader said neither he nor OPC received a kobo from the government as payment for the contract.

    Adams also dismissed allegations that he received N1.6billion from a former minister of state for defence Musiliu Obanikoro.

    “To the best of my knowledge, the last time that I saw the former minister was when he accompanied the former President to the National Confab. They need to explain to the world how I got the money and for what purpose it was meant for.

    “Let me put the records straight here. I am neither a politician nor a PDP member. I have said it several times in the past that our support for the former president was based on our belief that he stood a better chance of implementing the recommendations of the National Confab, which we believed, and still believe will serve the interest of the Yoruba race better.

    “I tell you, anything outside this is a lie and mere fabrication of those alleging it,” Adams said.

    ‎On claims that he shows disrespect to Yoruba royal fathers, Adams said: “This particular allegation is not only puerile, but also shows the level of mischief of these people.

    “Without any fear of contradiction, I stand to say I am one of the best Yoruba sons who have cultivated, promoted and maintained a very good relationship with all obas in Yorubaland.

    “It is on record that, through the singular efforts of our organisation, and to a large extent, my personal commitment to the ideals of ensuring the unity of Yorubaland and ensuring the peaceful coexistence of Yoruba people all over the world, I have worked tirelessly crisscrossing the Southwest and promoting one cultural festival or the other.

    “They alleged that I only bowed to our revered father, His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi.

    “Definitely, nothing can be further from the truth.”

  • DSS arraigns suspect over pipeline vandalism

    The Department of State Security (DSS) has dragged Mr. Nengi Samuel Ikiba to the Magistrate Court 11, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, accusing him of threatening to blow up a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

    Ikiba was said to have threatened the management of Agip through a text message he composed and sent to the company on January 25, 2016.

    The suspect in the text message allegedly asked the company to either award him a surveillance contract or risk an attack on its pipelines.

    A charge sheet signed by the DSS’ Prosecuting Lawyer, Victor Uchendu, said Ikiba committed an offence punishable under Section 389 of the Criminal Code, Law of Bayelsa State, 2006.

    The charge sheet said: “That you Nengi Samuel Ikiba, on or about the 25th day of January, 2016 in the Yenagoa Magisterial District caused the management of Agip Company Limited to receive an SMS via your GSM number 08037028391

    “In which you threatened to cause damage to the company’s facilities unless they award you a security surveillance contract and thereby committed an office punishable under Section 389 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C14, Law of Bayelsa State, 2006.”

    The court, however, adjourned the case to March 3, 2016, for hearing.

    Meanwhile, the President, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, and the Bayelsa State chapter of the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), warned youths in the Niger Delta region against vetting their anger of perceived injustices on oil installations and pipelines.

    Eradiri noted that the region’s agitations for social justice and equity had gone beyond violence, youths restiveness and economic sabotage.

    He called on the youth to embrace the new approach of intellectualism in engaging the government with the problems of the region.

    According to him resorting to sabotage through bursting of pipelines to send a message to the authorities was crude, uncivilised and against growth and development of the area.

    Eradiri spoke when the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), Bayelsa State chapter, in collaboration with A.J. Alagoa Library, donated thousands of books to Oronto Douglas Library and ICT Centre established by the IYC.

    He told the youths that education remained the key to development adding that without it, socio-economic and political development would continue to elude the region.

    He said: “We have come to realise that without education, there is nothing you can achieve and that is why we dedicated this library to our comrade, late Oronto Douglas, former Presidential aide.

  • DSS arraigns suspect for threatening to blow pipelines

    DSS arraigns suspect for threatening to blow pipelines

    The Department of State Security (DSS), Thursday, dragged Mr. Nengi Samuel Ikiba, to the Magistrate Court 11, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, accusing him of threatening to blow up a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

    Ikiba was said to have threatened the management of Agip through a text message he composed and sent to the company on January 25, 2016.

    The suspect in the text message allegedly asked the company to either award him a surveillance contract or risk an attack on its pipelines.

    A charge sheet signed by the DSS’ Prosecuting Lawyer, Victor Uchendu, said Ikiba committed an offence punishable under Section 389 of the Criminal Code, Law of Bayelsa State, 2006.

    The charge sheet said: “That you Nengi Samuel Ikiba, on or about the 25th day of January, 2016 in the Yenagoa Magisterial District caused the management of Agip Company Limited to receive an SMS via your GSM number 08037028391 “in which you threatened to cause damage to the company’s facilities unless they award you a security surveillance contract and thereby committed an office punishable under Section 389 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C14, Law of Bayelsa State, 2006.”

    The court, however, adjourned the case to March 3, 2016, for hearing.

    Meanwhile, the President, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, and the Bayelsa State chapter of the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), warned youths in the Niger Delta region against vetting their anger of perceived injustices on oil installations and pipelines.

    Eradiri noted that the region’s agitations for social justice and equity had gone beyond violence, youth’s restiveness and economic sabotage.

    He called on the youth to embrace the new approach of intellectualism in engaging the government with the problems of the region.

    According to him resorting to sabotage through bursting of pipelines to send a message to the authorities was crude, uncivilised and against growth and development of the area.

    Eradiri spoke when the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), Bayelsa State chapter, in collaboration with A.J. Alagoa Library, donated thousands of books to Oronto Douglas Library and ICT Centre established by the IYC.

    He told the youths that education remained the key to development adding that without it, socio-economic and political development would continue to elude the region.

    He said: “We have come to realise that without education, there is nothing you can achieve and that is why we dedicated this library to our comrade, late Oronto Douglas, former Presidential aide.

    “We want every Ijaw youth to begin to think about change in our community via the pen instead of destruction of pipelines and activities that will not bring glory to our people.

    “In fact, for me, for somebody to burst pipelines in orded to send a message, is a crime against humanity.

    “This is how I have always classified sabotage via destruction of pipelines because at the end of the day, the government will continue to take their money, pump their oil and the environment is usually meant to suffer as a result of such activities.

    “In the long run, the diseases and all those other things that are associated with environmental degradation are meted to the same people they claim to want to liberate via agitation. So, it is a crime against humanity for somebody to destroy pipelines as a means of agitation.”

    Also, the Chairman, ANA, Bayelsa State, Michael Afenfia, said the books were donated by the association in collaboration with A.J. Alagoa Library to enhance capacity building of Nigerians, particularly the Ijaw youths.

    Afenfia, who commended the Eradiri-led IYC for its laudable capacity building programmes, said: “I am very glad that the struggle for social justice and equity is taking another dimension.

    “We are going away from militancy and agitation through violence and combatant struggle and pushing it to the arena of academic and intellectualism and we really commend this effort.

    “We hope that the whole world can see this and elevate IYC to a status of an organisation that wants to give the Niger Delta struggle a new face.

    “That is the kind of thing the Ijaw nation needs at this time. We, therefore, urge the youth to use the facilities in a bid to compete favourable with their contemporaries in any part of the world.”

  • ISIS recruiter a weak student – FUT Minna

    The suspected recruiter for the Islamic State (ISIS), Abdussalam Enesi Yunusa, who was arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) on Monday, has been described as weak and unserious student by the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

    The institution’s Chief Information Officer, Mrs. Lydia Legbo, on Wednesday said Yunusa registered for the 2010/2011 academic session, but absconded after the first semester in the 2014/2015 academic session.

    “The said Abdussalam Yunusa was admitted into FUT Minna in 2010/2011 academic session. He was a weak student who last registered in the 2014/2015 academic session but absconded after the first semester.

    “From our records, he is in 300- level student and did not register for the current academic session (2015/2016). His course mates graduated in 2014/2015 and are currently being mobilized for National Youth Service,” Legbo stated.

    She commended the security agencies in their efforts to rid the society of deviants.

     

  • Ijaw youths knock DSS for raiding Jonathan’s ally’s home

    Ijaw youths on Wednesday knocked the Department of State Security (DSS) for ransacking the Abuja residence of King Amalate Turner, an ally of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The home of Turner, who is the King of Opume Kingdom in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, was on Tuesday searched by DSS for an unexplained reason.

    But the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), after an emergency meeting at its headquarters in Yenagoa, described the DSS’ action as an affront to the traditional institution of the Ijaw nation.

    The President of IYC, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, alleged that the due process of issuing official invitation to a suspect and obtaining a search warrant was not followed during the operation of the DSS.

    Describing it as an abuse of fundamental human rights, Eradiri said the entire nation was still in shock over the way the security agency treated the property of one of its kings.

    He said: “On Tuesday, very sad and bitter news came into Ijaw land that the DSS has invaded a property of a royal majesty, a king in Ijaw land, King Amalate Turner. The act is condemned.

    “It should not be accepted by the Nigerian public. We see it as an abuse of fundamental rights of individuals of this country. The procedure was not followed. DSS should have invited the person.

    “Initially, we even thought it was an armed robbery operation. It was just like the way armed robbers operate. Security agencies have modus operandi of engaging civil society.  We condemn that act and I am sure the right action should be taken.”

  • DSS arrests three over bid to rob TSA of N4.5b cash

    DSS arrests three over bid to rob TSA of N4.5b cash

    Accountant-General’s office worker held

    Undergraduate ISIS recruiter arrested 

    A plot by a syndicate to steal N4.5 billion from the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) has been foiled by the Directorate of State Services (DSS).

    The four-man syndicate was about to hack into the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) domiciled in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) to steal the money when the plan was aborted by the under cover security outfit.

    In a wide-ranging statement on its activities yesterday, DSS spokesman Tony Opuiyo, said: “The gang was led by one Sunny Okoh, a hacker who worked in collaboration with the trio of Uwem Udo Ekpo, a Chief Programme Analyst in the OAGF, Maxwell Ekene, a retired security operative and Dozie Egwu, based in Malaysia and who is now at large.

    “The suspected fraudsters intended to use a software they had sourced and codes released to them by Ekpo to hack government accounts in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and defraud the government of this huge sum,” the DSS alleged.

    The intelligence-gathering agency stated that the hacking suspects had been handed over to the EFCC for further investigations and prosecution, adding that citizens’ timely information is always helpful in uncovering criminals’ plans.

    The DSS has also arrested a 17-year-old university undergraduate and other suspected members of extremist groups linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) operational cells in Libya.

    According to Opuiyo, intelligence provided by citizens and sister agencies facilitated the DSS’ series of tactical operations involving raids and enforcement against identified criminal and extremist kingpins and syndicates across the country.

    He said: “On 17th January, 2016, one Abdussalam Enesi Yunusa, a recruiter for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), was arrested in Kano; his arrest was sequel to available intelligence which indicated his terrorist antecedents and covert drive to indoctrinate and recruit susceptible youths in the country.

    “Prior to his arrest, Yunusa had completed arrangements to embark on a journey to join an ISIS terrorist training camp in Libya, with other Nigerians whom he recruited for the Islamic State; these recruits include the trio of one Muhammed Rabi’u, Yahaya Momoh Jimoh and a woman, Zainab Sunday.

    “Yunusa is a 400-level undergraduate student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, where he was studying for a degree in Information and Media Technology; he was subsequently radicalised and became a member of an extremist cell, comprising one Ibrahim and Abubakar Ligali, whom he revealed are currently undergoing terrorist training in Libya.

    “He listed one Aminu and Ibrahim Jihadi (Nigeriene) as other ISIS agents operating in Nigeria and the West African sub-region and that the cell was being funded by one Abu-sa’ad Al Sudani, a media expert with the extremist group using Western Union money transfers to fund the terrorist cell agenda.”

    Other suspects were also arrested in Daura, Katsina State, Kano city and in Kwara State.

    “On 17th January, 2016, in Daura township of Daura LGA, Katsina State, another budding extremist cell affiliated to ISIS was intercepted by the Service; one Ibrahim Mohammed Daura, Zaharadeen Salisu and five other elements of the proscribed extremist group, Ansaru, were arrested by the Service.

    “This group was discovered in an active stage, as its members were already co-ordinating themselves for attacks in Katsina and Kano states.

    “In the same vein, on 22nd January, 2016, one Obansa Salami, Ejide Tijani (aka Abu Uwaise II), Mohammed Rabiu (aka Ubida II), Zainab Mohammed and Abdulqadir Salisu Ahmad were arrested in Kano by this Service while migrating to Libya with their immediate families, including infants, in a bid to join ISIS.

    “On 29th January, 2016, the Service arrested Mohammed Aliyu Ndako, a 17 year-old undergraduate student of a tertiary institution in Kwara State; he was arrested sequel to credible intelligence on his plans with one Abdulkadir Salisu Ahmad (a.k.a Daddy Tall), another student in Kano State, to carry out coordinated lone-wolf attacks on selected populated targets in Nigeria, preferably worship centres or recreation venues.

    “The suspect had hitherto been communicating with foreign extremist elements while sourcing online terrorist training and support,” the DSS alleged.

    The DSS disclosed that a gang of five kidnappers – Abubakar Hassan, Usman Musa, Usman Adamu and Idrisa Babangida Ahmadu – were arrested at Ife junction, Osun State, on 3rd February. Saidu Isyaku was arrested at Ojo in Ibadan, Oyo State. Their arsenal comprising six AK 47 rifles, five magazines and about 1000 rounds of ammunition were recovered.

    “Another breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping was the killing of Abubakar Mohammed (aka BUBA), and an unidentified member of his group, on 8thFebruary, close to Jebba Medical Centre, Jebba, Kwara State during a shootout with security operatives; Mohammed and his men had terrorized, to no end, residents of the Southwest zone and he was also linked to the kidnap of the elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, in Ondo State,” the DSS added.

    Nengi Samuel Ikiba (aka Kockman Abula) was arrested on 27th January in Bayelsa State. The DSS alleged that the suspect confessed to vandalisation of several pipelines, including the 24″ Agoda/Brass Oil pipeline at Idema community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

     

  • DSS launches probe into Ekiti governorship poll fraud

    DSS launches probe into Ekiti governorship poll fraud

    •Aluko continues testimony tomorrow 

    Former Secretary of the Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary, Dr. Temitope Aluko, has been answering questions from the Department of State Services (DSS) concerning his allegations of massive rigging of the 2014 governorship election in the state.

    The first round of interrogation was conducted in Abuja on Friday with the second round due to follow tomorrow, The Nation gathered yesterday.

    Aluko, speaking on Channels Television last week, alleged collusion between the PDP, Fayose and security officials in rigging the election.

    Of note is the allegation that former President Goodluck Jonathan released $37million to Fayose for the prosecution of the election wich Fayose won, defeating the then incumbent Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    $2million of the sum was allegedly released for the PDP primaries which Fayose won conveniently and the balance of $35million for the election proper.

    The former PDP scribe had earlier appeared before the Nigerian Army Board of Inquiry chaired by Maj.-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, which investigated the roles played by its officers and men where he gave evidence and tendered sensitive documents.

    Aluko was grilled on Friday by the DSS on all he knew about the alleged compromise of the Ekiti governorship election.

    A source as the DSS office in Abuja confirmed yesterday that Aluko tendered many documents, which would assist the security agency in its investigations especially on “issues bordering on state security.”

    The source said an interactive conference has been scheduled for tomorrow during which Aluko will face a larger panel of investigators to shed more light on the issues surrounding the alleged compromise of the poll.

    The source said: “Dr. Aluko was invited by the DSS High Command in Abuja to make clarifications on his allegations and give details on what transpired before, during and after poll.

    “Dr. Aluko is now in the DSS custody and he is okay there as he sees this as his patriotic duty to the nation especially in his desire to let Nigerians know that the Ekiti governorship poll was neither free nor fair as the world was made to believe.

    “There are so many issues to shed light on. His interrogators want him to dot the i’s and cross the t’s most especially issues bordering on state security about the Ekiti governorship election.

    “After the preliminary interaction with Dr. Aluko, the DSS officials are planning an interactive conference with him on Monday which may involve a larger team of investigators.

    “From the way things are going, Dr. Aluko may be the guest of DSS till Tuesday because the Monday’s interactive conference may last a whole day.

    “The DSS officers were not hostile but they were very inquisitive asking so many questions with details.

    “The federal government is monitoring the situation because it has gotten so many messages from the revelations of Dr. Aluko since the new broke.”

    Meanwhile, a member of the seventh House of Representatives, Hon Bamidele Faparusi, has called on the federal government to try those who allegedly conspired with Fayose to rig the Ekiti governorship election.

    Faparusi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, described the revelations of the embattled Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Aluko as mind-boggling.

    Speaking with reporters in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Faparusi said making those implicated in the alleged electoral malfeasance should face justice with a view to  sanitizing  the country’s electoral process.

    Faparusi described the bench warrant issued against Aluko by a Magistrate court in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday as “rather preposterous and misdirected”.

  • IPMAN urges DSS to stop fuel price enforcement

    The Independent Petroleum Marketing Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has appealed to  Director of State Security (DSS) operation to leave fuel price for its Task Force on Petroleum Monitoring in Kogi State.

    The Federal Government directed that the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) be sold at N86.50 per litre.

    Leader of the IPMAN task force in the state, Mr. Nwozuzu Henscchenl, whose operatives with men from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), moved  around fuel outlets across the state, said interference by some DSS officers hampered their work.

    The team sealed some petrol stations in Lokoja, the state capital, for selling fuel above the approved price.

    Other infractions by the filling stations, he said, include shortchanging of customers through adjustment of dispensing meters and selling at an average of N110 per litre.

    He said the taskforce’s operations, which lasted two days, led to the shutting of some petrol stations, including three in Lokoja. He alleged that he was inundated by calls from people claiming to be DSS operatives, requesting that they either release those arrested or reopen sealed outlets.

    Asked to identity those who called him, Henschenl said he did not know them. He however said when he called the DSS office in Lokoja, he was assured that none of their operatives would engage in any illegality.

    “The places we visited so far, what we saw on their meters is N86.50, but that is in disguise. Mostly, they use calculator and sell at N110; we have our exhibits. Not only that, most of them shortchange customers by dubiously adjusting their meters; when you buy say 10 litres, what you get could be nine litres.

    “We experienced a lot of interference. For example, when we embarked on night enforcement, a lot of the stations had closed, having gotten wind of our operations during the day. After a while, some came, saying they were officers from the DSS, and I had to soft-pedal to manage the situation,’’ Henschenl said.

    He said he had called the DSS headquarters in Abuja to ascertain their identity and complained about their nefarious activities in the state.

  • Armsgate: Late arrival of Dasuki stalls proceedings

    Armsgate: Late arrival of Dasuki stalls proceedings

    Proceedings were stalled Tuesday in the trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Sambo Dasuki and others at the High Court of the federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja by the late production of Dasuki in court by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Dasuki is being tried with a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, and a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, a former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, the ex-governor’s son, Sagir Attahiru, and a firm, Dalhatu Investment on a 22-count in which they were accused of looting about N13billion public funds.

    When the case was called Tuesday, the other defendants in the case were in court, except Dasuki. The judge also noted that other parties in the case were yet to respond to a fresh application by Dasuki, seeking to stop further proceedings in the case.

    Dasuki was later brought in by men of the DSS while the judge, Justice Peter Affen was in the process of adjourning the case.

    The judge proceeded to adjourn to February 9 to enable parties respond to Dasuki’s application.

    In his application, Dasuki wants the court to prohibit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  (EFCC) from prosecuting him on the ground that the EFCC could not continue with his trial have failed to earlier orders of the court made on December 21 last year, admitting him to bail.

    He filed a similar application in another charge pending against him and others before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the same FCT High Court.

    “An order prohibiting the complainant (prosecution) from further prosecuting the instant charge or any order charge against the second defendant (Dasuki), or seeking any form of indulgence before this honourable court in Nigeria, except and unless it complies with the order of this court made on December 21, 2015, the said order which remains valid for all intents and purposes, having not been set aside by any appellate court.

    “An order discharging the second defendant/applicant of all the offences contained in the instant charge, the said charge which cannot be lawfully prosecuted by the complainant who is in brazen disobedience of a subsisting ‎order of this honourable court made on December 21, 2015.”

    He also sought as alternative prayers, “A mandatory order directing the complainant who acts through the Department of State Services/EFCC and other enforcement agencies, to immediately produce the second defendant in court, by which this honourable court may give directives as it considers appropriate, for the administration of justice in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

    “An order staying further proceedings in this charge until the second defendant/applicant exhausts the remedies available to him him law for the enforcement of his right to liberty, the said right which had already been preserved by the order December 21, 2015.”