Despite the order of a Federal High Court, operatives of the Department of State Services have refused to vacate the residence of a former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Dasuki Sambo.
Information available to The Eagle Online has it that as at 7pm on Friday, the operatives of the DSS were still at the residence in Abuja.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had on Friday ordered the DSS to obey its earlier order to allow Dasuki travel abroad for medical treatment.
The court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, on Friday said its order of November 3 that Dasuki should be allowed to travel for medical treatment must be respected.
After the ruling on November 3, Dasuki made to travel on November 4 but was barred by the operatives of the DSS and had since been placed under house arrest.
The DSS said Dasuki had another case to attend to aside the one before Justice Ademola on gun running and money laundering.
On Friday, however, Justice Ademola summoned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Alhaji Abubakar Malami (SAN), to appear in court on Monday to explain the siege laid to Dasuki’s residence in the last two weeks.
The Counsel to Federal Government, Shuaibu Labaran, who declined to confirm or deny the presence of the security operatives in the house of Dasuki, in breach of the court order, admitted that the former NSA was being investigated in another money laundering matter.
However, Justice Ademola, who was not comfortable with the violation of his order, told the Federal Government counsel to inform his client to learn how to respect and obey a valid court order.
The Judge said he was baffled by the claim of any further investigation of Dasuki by the DSS because the same Service had filed before the court affidavit evidence that they have completed investigations on Dasuki and ready for his trial.
He said even if the DSS had any cause to conduct any further investigation, the lawful thing was to have allowed Dasuki to go abroad for treatment of his ailment as ordered by his court rather than looking for excuses to justify disobedience to the order.
He said: “I even varied the bail conditions to accommodate a surety to ensure that the accused comes back to answer the charges against him.
“No big deal in any new investigation. It is even a small matter to the earlier order.
“I do not want this issue to escalate because it is attracting global attention and I know what that means. So my order must not be flouted.
“If you have any further issue with him, let him go for his medical checkup and come back.
“It is the duty of all Nigerians to ensure that court orders are obeyed.
“I am not too happy with what is happening.
“It is an act of lawlessness and I believe it is not too early for the AGF to look into this mess.
“The AGF has to come to my court immediately.
“It is in the best interest of the nation so that the scenario will not continue.
“It is important that the AGF, being the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, be present in this court on Monday.”
It will be recalled that the former NSA has sued the Federal Government, seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights to dignity and security of his life. Definite hearing of the suit has been scheduled for Monday.
The source: Eagle online
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