Categories: CRIMEMETRO

Court orders release of Dasuki’s passport

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday ordered the release of the passport of a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf at Maitama made the order to enable the ex-NSA to renew the expired passport and secure a 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The second prayer opposed by the prosecution was then withdrawn by the defence lawyer.

Sponsored

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.

The EFCC also withdrew two applications seeking an order of the court directing the two pending cases to continue regardless of whether Dasuki was present in court or not.

The commission had filed the application after he wrote a letter to inform the court that he would no longer attend court until he was released from the illegal custody of the Department of State Services which detained him for about four years in disregard of the bail granted him by different courts.

The judge struck out the applications which were said to have been overtaken by the event of Dasuki’s release from custody on the 2019 Christmas Eve.

The court fixed March 13 for trial.

SPONSORED
Alex Enemanna

A print journalist with vast knowledge of political developments in Nigeria. Passionate about equity and fairness through robust developmental journalism.

Recent Posts

Finally, The North Has Agreed With Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, By Aloy Ejimakor

Earlier today (12th November 2024), I noticed that several news outlets quoted the Northern Elders…

8 hours ago

FCTA Arrests Scavengers Destroying Abuja’s Infrastructure

Criminals who pose as scavengers to damage the city's infrastructure at night have been apprehended,…

9 hours ago

Canterbury’s Archbishop Justin Welby Resigns Over Claims Of Child Abuse

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the head of the Anglican Church worldwide, resigned…

10 hours ago

Jigawa Car Crash: 10 Reportedly Dead, 1 Injured

A deadly road accident in Yanfari village, in Jigawa State's Taura Local Government Area, has…

10 hours ago

African Youths Should Embrace AI, Obasanjo Says

African youths have been encouraged by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to embrace artificial intelligence in…

10 hours ago

Nigerian Billionaire Geoffrey Ogunlesi Engages Fiancee With Diamond Ring With $500k

American jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer has flaunted her diamond engagement ring from fiancé Geoffrey Ogunlesi…

12 hours ago