An Abuja High Court has overruled the
Federal Government in its decision to
confine the detained former National
Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to the
premises of the State Security Service to
access and brief his lawyer in the ongoing
trial of criminal charges on corruption
brought against him.
Mr. Dasuki, who was granted bails by
three different high courts, met the bail
conditions but was re-arrested by the SSS
since December last year and yet to be
released.
The court ordered that the ex-NSA must
be allowed to access and brief his lawyers
at a neutral place instead of the premises
of the SSS headquarters in Abuja so as to
enable him prepare adequately for his
defence in the trial.
Justice Husain Baba Yusuf, who issued the
order in Abuja on Monday directed that
henceforth the detained ex-NSA should
be allowed by the SSS to access his
lawyers within the premises of the
Federal Capital Territory Judiciary
Headquarters in Maitama Abuja between
Monday to Friday this week.
The pronouncement of Justice Baba Yusuf
followed a complaint by Mr. Dasuki’s
lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, that the legal
team for Mr. Dasuki had not been allowed
to have direct access to him in spite of a
court order made on April 6.
At the resumed hearing of the case,
counsel to the Federal Government,
Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the Judge that
the case was slated for commencement
of trial and that he was fully ready with
his witnesses.
However, Mr. Adedipe rose and informed
the court that he was not ready for any
trial because the ruling of April 6, which
ordered the SSS to allow them access
their client for briefing so as to prepare
his defence had not been complied with
by the security agency.
The counsel claimed that following the
April 6 ruling, a letter by Mr. Dasuki’s lead
counsel, Joseph Daudu, dated April 13
was despatched to the SSS requesting
permission to access Mr. Dasuki outside
the SSS office as contained in the ruling of
the court.

To their surprise, Mr. Adedipe informed
Justice Baba Yusuf that the prosecution
counsel, Mr Jabobs replied on April 18 to
the effect that the access to Mr. Dasuki
can only be granted at a convenient room
and unhindered in a special room at the
SSS headquarters.
The counsel insisted that because of the
confidentiality required in such a briefing
between a client and his lawyer, the SSS
letter could not be acted upon, hence the
defence was not ready for trial until it has
been afforded opportunity to access Mr.
Dasuki on a neutral ground for proper
briefing.
The same position was canvased by Akin
Olujimi, SAN, Solomon Umoh, SAN and
Abioldun Layonu, SAN who are counsel to
other defendants in the trial and claimed
that in order not to put a question mark
on the trial, Mr. Dasuki must be allowed
access to his lawyers in a neutral place in
the interest of fair trial.
Justice Baba Yusuf, who had earlier
indicated that he was not going to grant
any further adjournment however saw
reason with the defence and adjourned
the case till June 6 for the SSS to comply
with his April 6 ruling.
The Judge ordered that as from Monday
(today) till Friday, Mr. Dasuki must be
brought by the SSS operatives to the
premises of the Abuja High Court as a
neutral ground where Mr. Dasuki should
be allowed unhindered access to his
lawyers to enable him prepare adequate
defence in the criminal charges against
him.
Justice Baba Yusuf asked Mr. Jacobs to
prevail on his client to always obey orders
of the court in order not to impede the
criminal trials pending in the court of
laws.
www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/203953-court-overrules-nigerian-govt-lawyers-access-dasuki.html

ok

Watching

buhari is a terrorist
God punish Buhari

Most Nigerians think it is lawful detaining him. Even if he has been indicted, he is not guilty yet until proven by the court of Law. FG obey court order.