An Abuja High Court has ordered the federal government to allow former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), access to his lawyer during working hours to enable him defend himself in the charged brought against him by government.
Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf gave the order following the application by Dasuki’s lead counsel, Mr. Joesph 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.
Dasuki, Shuaibu Salisu, former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, and Aminu Baba-Kusa, former NNPC Executive Director, were arraigned for the diversion of N13.6 billion meant for purchase arms.
The others were Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.
At the resumed hearing yesterday, Mr. Adebisi Adeniyi, who held the brief for Mr. 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.
He said 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 the Department of State Services (DSS) said it had never received any request for access from anybody.
The prosecuting counsel said 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 that would aid them in his defence.
The court adjourned the case till May 3, 2016 for continuation.
ThisDay
