Justice Baba Yusuf of an Abuja High Court has again reaffirmed the bail earlier granted former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki(rtd).
Recall that Justice Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court had recently granted the former NSA bail but the Federal Government refused to obey the order.
However, the matter was transferred to the Justice Yusuf-led court who reaffirmed the bail of Dasuki and five others standing trial on a 22-count charge bordering on the misappropriation of $2.1bn arms deal.
At the resumed trial today, the trial judge said Dasuki was entitled to bail after he was admitted to same since 2015.
All defendants pleaded not guilty to the 22-count charge levelled against them.
Following their non-guilty plea, counsel to the former NSA, Ahmed Raji prayed the court to reaffirm Dasuki’s bail.
Raji stated that Dasuki was admitted to bail before the Department of State Services, DSS, illegally arrested and detained him.
He argued that since the matter was transferred from Justice Affen to Justice Yusuf, the DSS has been separated from the matter, adding that the court record indicated that Dasuki is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Raji contended that it was wrong of the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, to have objected to the reaffirmation of the bail condition on Dasuki.
Jacobs who had earlier told the court that he had no objection to the affirmation of the bail earlier granted to five other defendants in the trial, however urged the judge not to make any pronouncement or order in respect of Dasuki’s bail.
“Court must not act in vain, there is no point making an order in vain. Dasuki has been in the custody of the DSS since 2015 and is still there till today, ”Jacobs said.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Yusuf said it would be in the interest of justice to reaffirm Dasuki’s bail irrespective of the action of the security agencies.
The judge consequently adjourned the matter to February 24, 2016.
