The Federal Government, yesterday, asked the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to revoke the bail it granted the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd.
In an application it filed pursuant to section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the government sought an order committing the former NSA to prison pending his trial.
Vanguard recalled that although Dasuki was on September 1, granted bail by the high court on self recognition, trial Justice Ademola Adeniyi, on November 13, while granting the defendant leave to travel abroad for medical treatment, varied his bail condition.
Justice Adeniyi ordered the former NSA to produce a surety that must be ready to face prosecution should he (Dasuki), go into hiding after his medical treatment in the United Kingdom.
The court further directed the release of his hitherto seized traveling documents, saying Dasuki should return same to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Litigation of the high court within 72 hours of his return from the three weeks medical trip.
However, the government, yesterday, prayed the court to vacate the order by revoking the bail that was granted to the defendant. FG told the court that Dasuki is undergoing investigation by the committee auditing procurement of arms/equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence Sector from 2007 to date.
It said that an interim report of the committee showed that over $2 billion was allegedly embezzled and that Dasuki’s presence is required to assist in further investigation.
“That there is a federal government directive for the arrest of all those indicted by the report, including the defendant (Dasuki) and that the ongoing investigation which borders on money laundering against the defendant has not been concluded and there is fear that investigation might be tempered with on account of foreign visit by the respondent before the completion of investigation,” Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, who appeared at the court on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, stated in the application.
He added also that the ailment for which permission was given to Dasuki to travel to the United Kingdom for treatment can be properly treated in the National Hospital, Abuja and other teaching hospital in Nigeria.
FG also told the court that there is an intelligence report that Dasuki has concluded plans to take the advantage of the court order releasing his International Passport to escape justice and tamper with ongoing investigations.
Dasuki’s lawyers led by Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, however, objected to the application, contending that FG could not pray the court for such relief when it has refused to obey a subsisting order of the court. Justice Adeniyi had ordered the AGF to appear before him, but he failed to do so.
Daudu argued that the federal government should not be granted any indulgence by the court until it stops the siege to Dasuki’s home.
Justice Adeniyi fixed November 26 to determine the merit of FG’s application for bail revocation.
