Abacha persecuted Dasuki ‘for defending MKO’

Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), reportedly fell out with Sani Abacha, the late military dictator, over MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 election.

According to PRNigeria, the former NSA told Abacha to release Abiola, who was then in detention, and allow him to become the president.

The report is in reaction to the claim of the Department of State Services (DSS) that Dasuki left the army in an improper manner.

“Sani Abacha, the late military dictator,  held Dasuki in contempt and marked him down for persecution, when he opened up his mind on the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, positing that winner of the election, the late MKO Abiola, be installed as Nigeria’s president,” the report read.

“Dasuki was among the officers who confronted the late Abacha and insisted that MKO Abiola be freed and allowed to become president. This led to the premature retirement of Dasuki and other officers in 1994.

“The persecution that followed forced him into exile where he joined forces with other patriotic Nigerians to claim for the return of democracy in Nigeria. Some top politicians in the current administration also fled into exile to sustain campaigns for the enthronement of democracy. Dasuki and others were declared wanted by the Abacha’s police.

“Meanwhile, in an official gazette No 33 Volume 86, Dasuki was granted clemency and pardon along with others on March 4, 1999 by Abdulsalam Abubakar, the then head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, for their innocence and meritorious service to their fatherland.”

Ahmed Raji, counsel to the former NSA, also dismissed the claim by DSS, saying Dasuki is not a fugitive but a lawfully retired officer.

Raji said Dasuki left the army in 1994, adding that his exit from the military was officially gazetted in 1999 by the federal government through Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head of state.

“The allegation of fugitive against Dasuki could not hold water on stand in the face of the law in view of the official gazette of the federal government that confirmed his retirement from the military,” he said.

“It is curious that the prosecution counsel who initially claimed ignorance of the reason behind the denial of bail is now coming up with these excuses… I am tempted to believe that my learned friend Rotimi Jacob (SAN) must be genuinely mixing-up facts or mistake of identity.

“The allegation is baseless, unwarranted and malicious because his exit was in the gazette of the federal government. We accordingly urge those holding Dasuki in the custody in flagrant disobedience to the court order that granted him bail to have a rethink and respect the rule of law.”

Last Thursday, Rotimi Jacob, counsel to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the trial of Dasuki on alleged money laundering, had told Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf that Dasuki was being detained by DSS in spite of the bail granted him by the judge because of his past in the military.

Jacob specifically told the court that Dasuki went on an exile for seven years and that during the period he allegedly breached the army service rules.