Former National Security Adviser retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki has protested against his continued detention, vowing not to appear in court again for the continuation of his trial.
In a letter he personally signed and addressed to the Registrar of the Federal High Court Abuja, Dasuki made it clear that he would not be attending any proceeding for his trial since the federal government has proved beyond reasonable doubt that it would not obey any order of the court even if it is in his favour.
In the letter dated November 12, 2018, the Ex-NSA recalled several court judgments which ordered his release from detention since December 2015 which were not obeyed and other decisions that admitted him to bail and which were also refused by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Prevailing circumstances have prompted me to write this letter to the court, the hope of every Nigerian citizens. Unfortunately, it seems to me that the current administration has so much interference with the judicial system, such that it has become practically impossible for the Court to maintain her independence, the administration of justice. My plight is of common Knowledge.
“After the Federal Government failed to comply with all the bail orders and judgement of the ECOWAS court, I further approached the Federal High Court for the enforcement of my fundamental human right. In a judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu on July 2, 2018, the court found that my right had been breached and accordingly ordered my release from detention. The conditions whereof the court admitted me to bail have been met, but I have still not been released from custody.
“I am very much apprehensive about the President’s (Buhari) statement, in that my rights will continually be violated and that no order for my release will be honoured by the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its agencies.
“In reaction to my the judgement of the court enforcing my fundamental human right, an embarrassing statement was credited to Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN, the current Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on 13 July 2018 after the bail conditions have been met, including the deposit of N1,000,000 with the Registrar of the Federal High Court, stated that irrespective of the judgment directing the said release, the Federal Government would not comply
“At this juncture, it will seem that the Nigerian Government is not inclined to yield or obey the orders of any Court of Law; whether domestic or international. Ironically, the Federal Government still wants to ride on judicial wings to prosecute me, when it does not comply with Orders that proceed from the Court, especially in relation to me
“At this point, I strongly believe that there must be an end to this hypocrisy and lopsided/ partisan rule of law.
“Since the Federal Government has resolved not to comply with judicial Orders directing my release, it is better for the Court to also absolve me of the need to submit myself for further prosecution. Justice should be evenly dispensed, as opposed to same, being in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
At the resume trial today, Tuesday, before Justice Ahmed Rahmat Mohammed, the counsel to Federal Government, Chief Dipo Opeseyi told the court that Dasuki had deliberately refused to come to court because of his anger on certain steps taking by the government against him.
In reaction, Justice Muhammad directed the prosecution to always depose to an affidavit of evidence whenever the former NSA declined to come to court.
The Judge who said he had not received Dasuki’s letter formally however adjourned further trial to November 19.
