All Eyes On FG As Dasuki Perfects Bail Condition

A former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, may regain his freedom as a Federal High Court Judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, on Monday formally endorsed the bail application granted him on July 2. However, the federal government may disobey the bail order by the court as it has done on previous occasions when Mr Dasuki had been granted bail. Mr Dasuki has been detained by the State Security Service (SSS) since December 29, 2015, when he was rearrested by security operatives. Justice Ojukwu endorsed the bail application after Mr Dasuki perfected all the conditions imposed on him by the court. Family sources told PRNigeria today that the ex-NSA through his associates and well-wishers perfected the bail conditions which were verified by the officials of the Federal High Court. Legally, the endorsement of Justice Ojukwu by signing the bail papers on Monday has cleared the way for Mr Dasuki’s release. Family members, associates and well-wishers of the detained NSA were said to have been arriving Abuja in anticipation of his release by the federal government in compliance with the court order. After over two years in the detention, the court had on July 2, 2018 admitted Mr Dasuki on bail in the fundamental human right suit filed by him. He had applied to the court to admit him to bail on the ground that his detention since 2015 without trial was a breach of his fundamental right to freedom of liberty. Although charges were filed against Mr Dasuki by the federal government in four different high courts, he was granted bails by the courts but was not allowed to enjoy the bail. The ECOWAS Court of Justice had also ordered his release and imposed a fine of N15 million on the federal government for his unlawful detention. The government did not comply with the verdict. However, in the latest judgement, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu ordered that Mr Dasuki be released on bail in the sum of N200 million and two sureties in the like sum. The court said that one of the sureties must be a federal government employee with not less than grade level 16. In the event of a private person standing as the surety, the court held that the person must have landed property in Abuja. Besides, Justice Ojukwu said the surety must deposit N100 million with the registrar of the court and that the money would be returned to the surety at the end of the trial of the former NSA. Shortly after leaving office in 2015, the federal government filed corruption and arms possession charges against Mr Dasuki in different courts. He has denied any wrongdoing.]]>