Former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd)
Following his detention without trial for many months now, former
National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) has protested
his detention for alleged $15billion arms deals facilitated by the
Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).
According to The Nation, he says the Federal Government should
allow his trial to begin. He has rejected calls for a secret trial.
Speaking further, Dasuki revealed that based on service rules in a
security system, he only obeyed the directive of the President and
Commander-in-Chief, former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The ex-NSA, The Nation learnt, told his associates: “I am
ready for trial because they have destroyed my family’s name and my
professional integrity, especially how we successfully fought Boko Haram
and recovered major towns and cities, not villages. They should let my
trial start in earnest to enable Nigerians know the truth from
falsehood."
There is a plan to try Dasuki’s case in secret to protect some of the witnesses. But Dasuki disagreed.
He said: ”I don’t believe in secret trial and there is no basis
for it because the government has filed all necessary papers in court
and attached the list of witnesses. Since the witnesses have become
public knowledge, there is no basis for secret trial."
Dasuki also queried the rationale for keeping him in custody “without any warrant”.
He said: “Since I was detained in the custody of the Department
of State Service (DSS), I have not been shown any warrant to this
effect or court order.
”I deserve to be shown the warrant of detention by DSS and the
purpose for restricting me to house arrest. My detention is unlawful.”
He urged Nigerians to prevail on the government to admit him to
bail in line with the present administration’s commitment to the Rule of
Law.
Dasuki said: “All those who collected funds from ONSA have been
granted bail but I am still in custody. I have been granted bail on all
the cases filed against me by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), and even DSS, but I have not been released.
”If all the beneficiaries of the so-called funds are on bail,
what have I done wrong? Nigerians should help prevail on the government
to grant me bail.
”I cannot rock the boat. I am prepared for trial. We did everything with national and security interest.”
Dasuki stressed that he disbursed all the funds credited to ONSA based on the directive of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
”Based on the service rules in the security circle, I owe it a
duty to obey the President and Commander-In-Chief. Ex-President Jonathan
approved all the expenses incurred by ONSA.
”I am ready to prove in court how we complied with the directive of the ex-President.”
Dasuki was initially arrested by the DSS but EFCC took custody of him for trial.
But he was later returned to DSS facility from where he had been going to various courts.
The EFCC had arraigned Dasuki, and two others on 19-count charge of
misappropriation of funds meant for purchase of arms before a Federal
Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
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