Former
National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, has said he was not ready
for trial until the Federal Government complied with an order of the Federal
High Court granting him bail.
In November 2015, Justice Adeniyi Ademola had granted Dasuki bail but the
Department of State Services, DSS, rearrested him immediately after his release
from Kuje prison. Counsel to the DSS, Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN), announced to the
court, yesterday, that the prosecution was ready for trial to commence. But
Joseph Daudu, counsel to Dasuki, said the defence counsel was not ready to
proceed with the trial because the Federal Government was still keeping the
accused person in detention, despite an order of the court granting him bail.
He
said: “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 thing is that for about seven weeks we have
had no idea of his whereabouts.” However, Okpeseyi argued that the prosecution
was not stopping Dasuki from enjoying his freedom, saying the accused person
was not allegedly held for the charges before the court. He, therefore, asked
the court to reject the request for adjournment and to commence trial. But the
court adjourned till March 3 for the hearing on a motion to discharge Dasuki.
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