EX-NSA DASUKI CHALLENGES NIGERIAN GOVT MOVE TO REVOKE HIS BAIL

A former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who is standing trial over allegations of illegal possession of arms before the Federal High Court in Abuja, has filed a preliminary objection challenging the
application by the Federal Government to revoke the bail earlier granted to him by the court.
He said the government’s move was utter disregard to an earlier order that granted him permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Mr. Dasuki appealed to the judge to dismiss the move in order to protect the integrity of the court and the rule of law.
At the resumed trial, the prosecution counsel, Oladipo Okpeseyitan, informed the court that he had two applications seeking to revoke the bail earlier granted Mr. Dasuki, and also seeking to stop the further execution of the order of the court directing that the passport of the accused person be released to him.
He however told the court that he was constrained in moving the application as he was served with the defendant’s objection in court‎ and needed time to respond to it.
He subsequently applied for an adjournment.
Counsel to Mr. Dasuki, Joseph Daudu, did not oppose the application on ground that the prosecution was entitled to adequate time to enable him respond to the objections raised by him.
After listening to the parties, the trial judge, Adeniyi Ademola, adjourned till January 20, 2016 for the hearing of the preliminary objection.
The Federal Government had at the last adjourned date employed the services of Mr. Okpeseyitan, a private practitioner, to prosecute Dasuki.
Mr. Okpeseyitan on that day informed the court that he had filed a motion for stay of execution of the ruling of the court which granted Mr. Dasuki permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
He further applied to the court to put the ruling on hold pending the outcome of the appeal in the matter.
Mr. Dasuki’s counsel, Ahmed Raji, in his reply, then told the court that he had just been served with the motion, adding that he needed time to respond to the motion.
‎Mr. Dasuki had also stated then that he did not at any point make a statement implicating anyone or group in the allegation of $2billion arms purchase deal brought against him by the Federal Government.