Return To Impunity?
Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of the Abuja High Court yesterday failed to understand why the Federal Government failed to produce former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) in court.
Dasuki’s trial, which was fixed to start yesterday, was hindered by the refusal of the Federal Government to produce the defendant in court.
Since February 8, when the case started, the Federal Government has constantly failed to produce Dasuki for hearing to commence.
EFCC Prosecutor, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe, narrated to Justice Yusuf how he made serious efforts to have the DSS to produce Dasuki in court. He regretted that the efforts turned fruitless as the Department of State Security (DSS) still refused to produce him.
A frustrated Justice Yusuf reminded the prosecution that it was its statutory duty to produce a defendant in court. He gave the EFCC one more chance and adjourned the matter to May 23.
It will be recalled that Dasuki was arraigned before the court on December 14, 2015 and was subsequently granted bail. He was however rearrested on December 29, 2015 by DSS operatives, immediately he was released by prison authorities.
Checkpointcharley applauds the courage of this government to fight corruption. But the war against corruption must be prosecuted within the ambits of the law. It is simply executive lawlessness and utter disregard for due process for the DSS not to produce Dasuki in court for a fair hearing.
cpcnews.org 