The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday extended to November 23, the summons it earlier issued against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN) to appear before it to explain the siege still laid on the Abuja residence of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). The extension of the date till November 23 by Justice Adeniyi Ademola was at the instance of the new Solicitor General of the Federation, Mr. Taiwo Abidogun. Abidogun, who was in court, submitted that the AGF and Minister of Justice was yet to assume office fully.
The Solicitor General, however, noted that the AGF will assume office on Wednesday and will be briefed on the Dasuki’s court action between Thursday and Friday and urged the court to grant him permission to appear in the court next Monday. He further informed the court that the Federal Ministry of Justice has tremendous respect for court and the rule of law and will not do anything to undermine court powers. Dasuki’s counsel, J.B Daudu (SAN) did not oppose the application.
Justice Ademola had last Friday issued summon against the AGF following complaints by Dasuki’s counsel that the order of the court made since November 3 had not been allowed to be implemented by operatives of the Department State Services (DSS). Among others, Daudu submitted that several days after the court ordered Dasuki to travel abroad for treatment, the DSS operatives had since November 4 placed him under house arrest.
Counsel to Federal Government, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran who had declined to confirm or deny the presence of the security operatives in Dasuki’s house in breach of the court order, however admitted that the former NSA was being investigated in another money laundering matter.
However, Justice Ademola who was not comfortable with the violation of his order had told the Federal Government’s counsel to inform his client to learn how to respect and obey a valid court order.
The judge had said that he was baffled with the claim of any further investigation of Dasuki by DSS because the same security agency had filed before the court affidavit that they have completed investigations on Dasuki and ready for his trial. He said that even if the DSS had any cause to conduct any further investigation, the lawful thing was to have allowed Dasuki to go abroad for treatment of his ailment as ordered by the court rather than looking for excuses to justify disobedience to the order.
“I have made an order which has to be obeyed and the order is to the effect that the accused be allowed to go abroad as from November 4 to treat his ailment within three weeks and return to the court on November 26 for his trial in the charges brought against him. “If you have any further issue with him, let him go for his medical check-up and come back. It is the duty of all Nigerians to ensure that court orders are obeyed,” the judge had said.
The former NSA had filed an application against the Federal Government seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights to dignity and security of his life. He also applied to the court to compel the Federal Government to allow him travel abroad to treat his ailment as ordered by the court since November 3.
Dasuki complained that rather than allow him to go for the medical treatment abroad, the Federal Government agents mainly operatives of the DSS had laid siege on his house and kept him under house arrest in spite of his deteriorating health conditions. Meanwhile, the DSS has continued to lay siege to the Asokoro, Abuja home of Dasuki.
When DGossip247 visited the area between 2:53p.m. and 2:58p.m yesterday, four operatives of the DSS were seated beside the entrance to Dasuki’s residence. An operational vehicle was also parked close to the gate.
