A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) access to his lawyers during working hours.
Dasuki is standing trial for allegedly misappropriating about N13.6 billion meant for arms procurement.
Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf made the order on Wednesday following the application by Dasuki’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), that they had no access to him.
Daudu had told the court that because they had no access to him, they could not get enough information for his defence.
Former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser Shuaibu Salisu and former NNPC Executive Director, Aminu Baba-Kusa are also standing trial alongside the embattled former NSA. The others are Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
At the resumed hearing, Adebisi Adeniyi, who held the brief for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that they were ready with their witnesses.
Dasuki’s Counsel, Daudu objected and applied for long adjournment because the defence had no access to Dasuki and had an application before the Court of Appeal. Daudu said that the application before the appellate court was for stay of proceedings. But Adeniyi opposed the application for longer adjournment and prayed the court not to grant Daudu’s application.
Adeniyi reminded the court that Department of State Services (DSS) said they had never received any request for access from anybody.
The prosecuting counsel said that there was no concrete evidence before the court on why such application should be granted. After listening to the counsel, Baba-Yusuf ordered that Dauski’ should be made available to his lawyers to enable them get information from him for the purpose of his defence.
The court adjourned the case till May 3 for continuation.
