Dasuki’s third attempt to stop trial again hits the rock

A third attempt by a former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) to get the federal government from further prosecuting him was on Tuesday thrown out by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Ruling on Dasuki’s application, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, held that it lacked merit as same contained prayers that were not granted by any court.

The judge, who described the application as strange, also held that no court in Nigeria could either compel the Federal Government to prosecute a suspect or prohibit it from prosecuting an accused person.

It is the third time such an application from Dasuki would be rejected, as two other High Court judges of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, has done same.

Justice Ademola also in another ruling, dismissed a separate application by the Federal Government seeking protection of its 11 listed witnesses ‎whom it said were afraid of appearing to testify for fear of reprisal.

Read also: Only Saraki, not Senate is on trial, CCT tells ‘escort’ Senators

He stated that there were no grounds for granting such application, as the prosecution failed to prove its case for permission to shield the identities of the witnesses during trial.

Dasuki is being tried on four counts of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms.

Dasuki however filed the application dated February 11, 2016, asking the court to prohibit the Federal Government from prosecuting him and discharge him of the alleged crimes on the basis that the Federal Government had disobeyed the orders granting him bail and permitting him to embark on a medical trip abroad.

He claimed that his continued detention in the custody of the Department of State Service since December 29, 2015,‎ amounted to the Federal Government being in contempt of the court order of the court granting him bail on September 1, 2015 and another granting him permission on November 3, 2015 to travel abroad for medical treatment.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now