The trial of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki at the Federal High Court in Abuja- has yet again stalled, as a result of his continued detention by the Department of State Security Service, in spite of a court order admitting him to bail.

Late last year, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court had granted Dasuki bail, but he was subsequently rearrested by the DSS after his release from Kuje prison.

However, in the bid to enforce his bail, Dasuki’s legal team led by Joseph Daudu applied to Justice Ademola to discharge the accused on the ground that the government was in contempt of the court by putting him on trial.

Daudu on Tuesday, informed the court that his client was not willing to proceed with the trial, until the federal government obeys the bail granted Dasuki since last year.

“We cannot be ready for trial until the defendant enjoys his constitutional rights. We apply that we should be given time to prepare the defence. The conduct of the prosecution has not enabled him to enjoy his constitutional rights.”

“The worst is that for about seven weeks we do not know where he is. Any of us here who proceeds to defend an accused person in this circumstance may lose his license of practice.”

In an attempt to justify the federal government’s position, Dipo Okpeseyi filed a counter affidavit claiming that the sureties who stood for Dasuki are yet to fulfill the conditions attached to the bail.

He also claimed that the government was not in breach of the bail order because the international Passport of Dasuki initially seized by the DSS, has since being returned to him while adding that the accused is being held on separate charges.

However, Dasuki’s counsel informed Justice Ademola that they had just been served with a copy of the government’s reply to their motion, hence they would require the case adjourned in order to respond to series of new issues raised by government.

Ruling on the case, Justice Ademola said that in the best interest of justice and fair hearing as allowed by Section 36 of 1999 Constitution, the adjournment must be granted.

The Judge then ordered Dasuki’s counsel to file their response to the claim of government within 7 days and subsequently adjourned the trial till March 3, 2016.

Kolapo Olapoju