Court orders Federal Government to produce Dasuki

A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Federal Government to present the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki in court on Tuesday, February 16.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola who is presiding over the trial of Sambo Dasuki for charges of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms brought against the accused by the Federal Government of Nigeria, gave the order on Wednesday, January 20 in court after the Fedral Government failed to present the accused in court.

He said that it is mandatory for a defendant in a criminal matter to be physically present in court at every stage of the prosecution except where the presence of an accused is excused by court for reasons.

Dasuki’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), had complained to the court that his clientwas abducted by security agents of the Federal Government six weeks ago to an unknown destination.

Daudu informed Justice Ademola that since Dasuki was whisked away, all efforts by Dasuki’s family members and his lawyers to have access to him turned out futile.

Daudu also reminded the court that Dasuki had been granted bail in three different High Courts where Dasuki had been arraigned by the Federal Government, but the government and its agents refused to allow the ex-NSA go on bail.

He then urged the judge to compel the Federal Government to respect the court’s decision, having joined issues with the defendant in court.

Justice Ademola in response said: “I am worried that the accused is not here. I do not want to set a bad precedent. Except the court gives express order for the defendant not to be in court, the accused must be brought to court from wherever he is.”

“The accused must be here because I am not sure if what I am doing right now in the absence of the accused is not an illegality.

“Government and whoever is concerned must endeavour to do the necessary thing. The accused having been formally charged in court, must be produced in court for trial on the appointed days in compliance with provisions of the law.”

The judge then adjourned the case till Tuesday, February 16 when the trial would begin while stating that Dasuki must be produced in court that day.

Justice Ademola also stated that he would give his ruling on the prosecution’s application for witness protection ‎which has been pending before proceeding to trial on February 16.

He fixed additional trial date for February 17.

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