The saga around Nigeria’s former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki still looms, after been released by the State Security Service from detention on the 24 December 2019.
When President Buhari assumed office, one of those culprits he went after was Dasuki. On December 1, 2015, Dasuki was arrested by Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) for allegedly stealing $2.1 billion and accused of awarding phantom contracts to buy 12 helicopters, four fighter jets, and ammunition meant for Nigeria’s military campaign against Boko Haram Islamist militants.
Many Nigerians were excited that Buhari was beginning to implement his fight against corruption mantra. Nigeria had lost many of its citizens to Boko Haram while millions of Dollars were allotted to buy arms in a bid to end the insurgency.
However, after series of judicial hearing, the court finally ordered the DSS to release Dasuki but President Buhari kicked against it in many ways. It got so intense and widely publicized that Buhari does not respect or obey court orders.
Subsequently, the Federal Government felt the heat of national and international pressure; so, there was nothing more for them to do than to order his immediate release.
He was released hours after the SSS released Omoyele Sowore, an activist who was accused and subsequently arrested in August for planning to overthrow a democratically elected government.
Now, it appears that Dasuki is gradually regaining his total freedom after the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, Abuja, on yesterday ordered the release of his passport.
Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf at Maitama, made the order to enable the ex-NSA to renew the expired passport and secure visa to travel abroad for medical consultation.
Dasuki had deposited the passport in the registry of the court as part of the conditions of the bail granted him by the court in December 2015.
He and others are being prosecuted before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in respect of two sets of charges in which he and his co-defendants were accused of diverting funds meant for procurement of arms to be used to fight insurgency in the North-East.
Dasuki’s counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), argued the application seeking the release of the passport, on Wednesday.
The prayer for the release of the passport as contained in the application filed on February 11 was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Oluwaleke Atolagbe.
Atolagbe however opposed the second prayer seeking an order permitting the defendant to travel abroad.
The second prayer opposed by the prosecution was then withdrawn by the defence lawyer.
Ruling, Justice Baba-Yusuf granted an order for the release of the passport, which was not opposed by the prosecution.
The judge noted that it would be premature to grant Dasuki’s request to travel abroad when he had yet to renew his passport.