The Federal Government has explained why former National Security
Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) cannot leave the country in spite
of a court ruling permitting him to visit the United Kingdom (UK) for
three weeks to attend to his health.
FG said the ex NSA must honour the invitation of November 4 by the
Department of State Services (DSS) to clarify some issues relating to
fresh allegations of money laundering against him.
The government denied Dasuki’s claims that security agents laid
siege to his Abuja home and prevented him from traveling as ordered by
the Federal High Court on November 3.
A counter affidavit filed by the Federal Ministry of Justice to
Dasuki’s motion dated November 9, said the DSS was only performing its
statutory responsibilities.
Dasuki, who is on trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja on a
five-count charge of money laundering and illegal firearms possession,
told the court on November 13 that the DSS prevented him from traveling
and laid siege to his Abuja home.
His lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), said despite the order made by the
court on November 3, he was being prevented from travelling by security
agents, who have allegedly laid siege to his Abuja home.
A lawyer from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Labaran Magaji,
refuted Daudu’s claim, a development that informed the decision by
Justice Adeniyi Ademola to invite the Attorney General of the Federation
(AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), to brief him today on issues surrounding
the case.
Justice Ademola also fixed today for the hearing of Dasuki’s motion
of November 9 and the counter affidavit by the Federal Ministry of
Justice on November 11.
The government stated, in the counter affidavit, “that the
complainant has not in any way violated the order of this court granted
on September 1 and November 3”.
It added: “The defendant is undergoing an investigation for
other laundering offences other than the ones already before the court
in charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/319/2015; the fact that the defendant is
standing trial for one offence does not exculpate him from being
investigated for other fresh money laundering offences.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) has not and never
obstructed or interferes with the liberty of the defendant, his visitors
or any member of his family or access to his residence located at No 13
John Kadiya Street, Asokoro District, Abuja contrary to what was
contained in exhibit C1 and C2."
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