A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday lambasted the Department of State Security Services (DSS) over its refusal to allow former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment and putting him under house arrest.
“I have made an order which has to be obeyed and the order is to the effect that the accused be allowed to go abroad as from November 4 to treat his ailment within three weeks and return to the court on November 26 for his trial in the charges brought against him.
“I stand by my order, nobody is saying that the man should not be investigated, but the order must be obeyed and I am not ready to bend on the order”, fumed Justice Adeniyi Ademola of Federal High Court 6.
Ademola had on November 3 granted Dasuki’s prayer to travel abroad for three weeks to attend to his ill health but the DSS laid ambush for him at the airport, aborting his trip and have laid siege to his Asokoro, Abuja home since then.
Dasuki then approached the court through his lawyers complaining that nine days after the court permitted him to travel abroad for treatment, the DSS operatives had since Nov 4 placed him under house arrest 24 hours after the court order was made.
On Friday, Ademola then summoned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Alhaji Abubakar Malami SAN to appear in court on Monday to explain the siege laid to Dasuki’s residence in the last two weeks.
Counsel to Federal Government, Mr Shuaibu Labaran who declined to confirm or deny the presence of the security operatives in the house of Dasuki, in breach of the court order, however admitted that the former NSA was being investigated in another money laundering matter.
However, Justice Ademola who was not comfortable with the violation of his order told the Federal Government counsel to inform his client to learn how to respect and obey a valid court order.
The Judge said that he was baffled with the claim of any further investigation of Dasuki by DSS because the same DSS had filed before the court affidavit evidence that they have completed investigations on Dasuki and ready for his trial.
He said that even if the DSS had any cause to conduct any further investigation, the lawful thing was to have allowed Dasuki to go abroad for treatment of his ailment as ordered by his court rather than looking for excuses to justify disobedience to the order.
“I even varied the bail conditions to accommodate a surety to ensure that the accused comes back to answer the charges against him.
“No big deal in any new investigation, it is even a small matter to the earlier order.
“I do not want this issue to escalate because it is attracting global attention and I know what that means, so my order must not be flouted.
“If you have any further issue with him, let him go for his medical checkup and come back. It is the duty of all Nigerians to ensure that court orders are obeyed.
“I am not too happy with what is happening. It is an act of lawlessness and I believe it is not too early for the AGF to look into this mess.
“The AGF has to come to my court immediately. It is in the best interest of the nation, so that the scenario will not continue.
“It is important that the AGF, being the Chief Law Officer of the Federation be present in this court on Monday”, the Judge added.
It will be recalled that the former NSA, has sued the Federal government seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights to dignity and security of his life.
Definite hearing of the suit has been scheduled for Monday.
