Saraki: EFCC, DSS must obey court orders

Senate President Bukola Saraki says “every authority under the constitution” must obey court orders.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has held Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), in detention for months despite court orders granting him bail.

Speaking at the national anti-corruption summit in Abuja on Tuesday, Saraki said that anti-corruption agencies must be free from political interference.

According to him, political interference affects the credibility of the agencies.

The senate president, who is facing charges of false asset declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), also called for the respect of the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers.

The federal government had filed criminal charges of forgery against Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, at an Abuja high court. but it later withdrew them.

“I would not end my remarks without commenting on the need for every authority under our constitution to abide by decisions of courts made within jurisdiction. This is the only way to preserve law and order and maintain the rule of law as an essential ingredient for the survival of our nascent democracy,” Saraki said.

“As emphasised earlier, anti-corruption does not start or end with the ICPC, or the EFCC, the Police or the DSS. This fight is all-encompassing. This fight can only be fought and won by all of us – the people and their government – working in sync and playing our own part in the process within the ambits of our defined powers.

“If we are truly serious about building a Nigeria that is free from corruption and its myriad consequences, then we must fight to build a nation of institutions under law.

“We must work to ensure that there is order in all that we do. Unless there is order, we will not get the right results. Unless the anti-corruption war is underpinned on due process, the respect of the rule of law, and a clear acceptance of the separation of powers – with our constitution as our guiding law, we will not achieve lasting and sustainable results.”

The senate had condemned the raid on the houses of judges by the DSS.