Another court rejects Dasuki’s cry for freedom

The hope of embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to stop his trial, was again dashed by a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday, as the application brought by his counsel, Joseph Daudu for a stay of proceeding was dismissed.

Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had applied for stay of proceeding in the allegation of diversion of N19 billion by Mr. Dasuki while he was NSA, a case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  EFCC.

Read also: Dasukigate: Military chiefs hide loot in wives’, kids’ names

Daudu had predicated his application on the fact that his client was rearrested shortly after he was granted bail by a Federal High Court. He argued that since it the EFCC and the Department of State Services, DSS, that arraigned him before Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the Federal High Court, Abuja, they should not have gone ahead to re-arrest him.

He also contended that the arrest was in contempt of court since he already met the bail conditions, praying the court to suspend trial until government allow his client to enjoy his bail.

However, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, informed the court that it was the EFCC that is prosecuting Dasuki in the case before the judge and not the Federal Government, the EFCC is just an arm of government like the DSS, but that both arms operated separately by the provisions of the constitution.

He also contended that Dasuki and Daudu cannot bring an allegation of contempt of court before Justice Huseini Baba-Yusuf, when the bail in question was granted by Justice Adeniyi of the Federal High Court.

Justice Baba-Yusuf, in his ruling, said Dasuki’s re-arrest by any law enforcement agency was not precluded by any court order if he is found wanting.

He also ruled that the assertion by Daudu that the EFCC and DSS are one and the same lacks legal backing.

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