Court Throws Dasuki’s Application Out For Lack Of Merit

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Former National Security Adviser

By Nuel Suji – The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, today dismissed application seeking the release from detention, former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, for lack of merit.

Former National Security Adviser
Former National Security Adviser

Dasuki is standing trial over allegations of corruption bothering on the misuse of $2.1billion arms deal money.

Counsel to Dasuki, Joseph Daodu had filed an application questioning the continuous detention of his client even after an earlier court ruling had granted him bail, arguing that it is a violation of his fundamental human rights by the authorities.

But ruling on the matter, Monday, Justice Baba-Yusuf held that the central issue for consideration was whether or not the federal government was in contempt of court for failing to release the accused person after he was granted bail.

He ruled that the federal government was not in contempt of court because it was a stranger agent, the DSS, that was holding him, and not the EFCC, which is the main prosecution in the case.

He thereafter struck out Dasuki’s application for lacking in merit. The court had fixed Monday to rule on whether to discharge or to continue the trial of Dasuki for money laundering charges brought against him by the federal government.

Justice Baba-Yusuf fixed the date after counsel to Dasuki, Joseph Daodu (SAN), and counsel to the federal government, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), had addressed the court on a motion praying the release of the former NSA.

In the motion, Daodu asked the court to stop the federal government from prosecuting him until he was released. He argued that the federal government could not lawfully prosecute Dasuki because it had been in contempt of the court.

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