Court grants Dasuki bail but seizes his passport

Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (‎NSA), has been granted bail on self-recognition by the federal high court, Abuja. 

He is on trial over a charge of “illegal possession of arms” brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

He pleaded not guilty to charge.

‎In an application for bail, counsel to Dasuki, JB Daodu (SAN), urged the court to grant the accused person bail on self-recognition since the offence was a “bailable” one.

“His being on bail does not mean he will interfere with the investigation or disappear‎. His passport is with the state. We ask that he is bailed on self-recognisance,” Daudu argued.

MS Diri, the lead prosecuting counsel, did not object to the bail application, but asked the court to exercise its discretio‎n in the matter.

After listening to the counsels, Justice Ademola granted Dasuki bail on self-recognisance, pending the determination of the charge against him. He, however, ordered the former‎ NSA to deposit his travelling documents with the court.

The case was ‎adjourned to October 26/27 for hearing.

‎The former NSA, who arrived at the court a few minutes past nine, appeared unperturbed, drowning his face in the pages of a newspaper.‎‎

In a search on Dasuki’s residence in Abuja on July 16, the DSS had seized some firearms found in his possession as well as some vehicles.

The search resulted in a standoff between soldiers guarding his residence and the DSS operatives, which did not end until the evening of the next day.

The DSS premised its move on Dasuki on intelligence that he was planning to commit “treasonable felony”.

In a statement made available to TheCable last week, the DSS through, its acting spokesman, Tony Opuiyo, said: “You may recall that on 16 July, 2015, the Department of State Services (DSS), carried out a search operation on properties belonging to the immediate past national security adviser, Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (Col/rtd), in Abuja and Sokoto.

“This action was necessitated by credible intelligence which linked him to acts capable of undermining national security. The search operation led to the recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition among other things and for which further investigation was conducted.

“Consequently, on Monday 24 August, 2015, he was charged to court based on evidence so far obtained, but which relates to possession of fire arms without license punishable under section 27(i)(a)(i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 LFN 2004. This is in line with democratic practice and our avowed commitment to the rule of law, in which nobody is deemed to be above the law no matter how highly placed in the society. Accordingly, the general public will be duly informed as the matter progresses‎.”