SAN FRANCISCO, February 16, (THEWILL) – Former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) on Tuesday declared that he is not ready for trial until the federal government complies with an order of the Federal High Court granting him bail.
Dasuki who is being accused of unlawful possession of firearm had on December 29, 2015 perfected the last bail condition granted him by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, being third in series of bail, but was promptly rearrested by the operatives of Department of State Services, DSS, for undisclosed reasons.
But when counsel to the DSS, Mr. Dipo Okpeseyi SAN announced to the court on Tuesday that the prosecution was ready for trial to commence, counsel to Dasuki, Mr. Joseph Daodu SAN said his client was not prepared to proceed with the trial as the federal government was still keeping him in detention despite an order of the court granting him bail.
According to him, “We cannot be ready for trial until the defendant enjoys his constitutional rights.
“We apply that we should be given time to prepare the defence. The conduct of the prosecution has not enabled him to enjoy his constitutional rights.
“The worst is that for about seven weeks we do not know where he is. Any of us here who proceeds to defend an accused person in this circumstance may lose his license of practice.”
However, DSS’ counsel countered by stating that the prosecution was not stopping Dasuki from enjoying his freedom, stressing that the accused person was not being allegedly held for the charges before the court.
Okpeseyi went on to pray the court to reject the request for adjournment and proceed with the commencement of trial.
The court, in its ruling, adjourned the matter to March 3 for hearing of a motion to discharge Dasuki.
