. “I am Ready For Open Trial”
Detained ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), still in custody for months without trial, has kicked against his illegal detention for alleged $15billion arms deals facilitated by his Office as the National Security Adviser under the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to the Nation, he said yesterday that he wants his trial to begin so that Nigerians will know what is true and what is false. Dasuki however told his associates that he is not disposed to a secret trial.
He maintains his innocence in the allegations levelled against him, saying that, based on service rules in a security system, he only obeyed the orders of the President and Commander-in-Chief.
The newspaper reported that Dasuki told his associates: “I am ready for trial because they have destroyed my family’s name and my professional integrity, especially how we successfully fought Boko Haram and recovered major towns and cities, not villages. They should let my trial start in earnest to enable Nigerians know the truth from falsehood.
On the plan to try his case in secret to protect some of the witnesses, Dasuki protested and said: ”I don’t believe in secret trial and there is no basis for it because the government has filed all necessary papers in court and attached the list of witnesses. Since the witnesses have become public knowledge, there is no basis for secret trial.’
The ex-NSA also faulted his being kept in custody “without any warrant”.
“Since I was detained in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS), I have not been shown any warrant to this effect or court order.
”I deserve to be shown the warrant of detention by DSS and the purpose for restricting me to house arrest. My detention is unlawful.”
Dasuki asked Nigerians to prevail on the government to grant him bail in line with the present regime’s claim that it is committed to the Rule of Law.
He said: “All those who collected funds from ONSA have been granted bail but I am still in custody. I have been granted bail on all the cases filed against me by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and even DSS, but I have not been released.
”If all the beneficiaries of the so-called funds are on bail, what have I done wrong? Nigerians should help prevail on the government to grant me bail.
”I cannot rock the boat. I am prepared for trial. We did everything with national and security interest.”
Dasuki maintained that he disbursed all the funds credited to ONSA based on the directive of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
”Based on the service rules in the security circle, I owe it a duty to obey the President and Commander-In-Chief. Ex-President Jonathan approved all the expenses incurred by ONSA.
”I am ready to prove in court how we complied with the directive of the ex-President.”
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