Sambo Dasuki Loses Another Bid to Stop His Trial

A justice of the federal high court in Abuja, Adeniyi Ademola, has ruled that the trial of former national security adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, must continue, adding that he had not followed the proper process of filing a contempt charge against the federal government.

The Justice stated that it was out of place for a defendant in a suit to ask that charges against him be dropped for unweighty reasons, and therefore, dismissed the former NSA’s application to stop his trial.

Dasuki had filed the application to stop his trial on the grounds that the federal government had on several occasions flouted an order of the court granting him bail. He had asked the court to compel the government to obey its order or quash the charges against him.

On April 4, the court adjourned ruling on the application of Dasuki to stop his trial, and at the hearing of the application on March 3, Dasuki had said investors were losing confidence in the country because of the federal government’s refusal to obey court orders.

The former NSA, who was speaking through his counsel, Joseph Daodu (SAN), had urged the court to halt his trial until the government complied with the order granting him bail.

“How will the government look like at the end of the day? Will investors be confident in this country when court make orders, but they are not obeyed?” he had asked.

In November, Ademola granted Dasuki bail, but operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) rearrested him after his release from Kuje prison, and on February 16, Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN), counsel to the DSS, had announced to the court that the prosecution was ready for trial to commence.

Dasuki is facing a four-count charge of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms brought against him by the DSS. He is also facing multiple counts of money laundering at the federal capital territory (FCT) high court, Abuja.

Two judges of the court had dismissed his application to stop his trial.