Ex-NSA Dasuki gets three-week medical leave

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday asked the Federal Government and the Department of State Security Services, DSS to immediately release the passport of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) to him to enable him undertake speedy and urgent medical treatment abroad.

Dasuki was arraigned before the court on Monday August 24, 2015 on a one count charge of illegal possession of firearms but was immediately granted bail on self recognition with Justice Ademola ordering the DSS to submit his seized passport to the court registrar.

Last week, the prosecutor brought additional charges bordering on possession of local and foreign currencies against Sambo Dasuki and also sought for Secret Trial of the case.

However, the former NSA had applied to be given his passport yesterday to enable him attend to his health abroad, a demand which was opposed by the prosecution.

But in a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Ademola dismissed the counter argument by the Prosecuting Counsel, arguing that in criminal trial an accused person is assumed innocent until proven guilty and that a citizens health is very paramount in any trial case and before the law.

He therefore ordered for the release of the applicant’s international passports to enable “him to attend three-week medical treatment.”.

The presiding judge also “ordered the registrar to release the passport to the defendant with a caveat that “when the defendant returns he must submit his passport within the 72 hours to the Court Registrar”.