Posted on: 11:29 Fri, 08 Jul 2016



Former National Security Adviser
(NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) has
protested his detention for alleged
$15billion arms deals facilitated by
the Office of National Security Adviser
(ONSA).

He says the Federal Government
should allow his trial begin.
Dasuki is said to have told his
associates that he is not disposed to
a secret trial. He insists that based
on service rules in a security
system, he only obeyed the
directive of the President and
Commander-in-Chief, former
President Goodluck Jonathan.

The ex-NSA, told his associates: “I
am ready for trial because they
have destroyed my family’s name
and my professional integrity,
especially how we successfully
fought Boko Haram and recovered
major towns and cities, not villages.

They should let my trial start in
earnest to enable Nigerians know
the truth from falsehood.

There is a plan to try Dasuki’s case
in secret to protect some of the
witnesses. But Dasuki disagreed.

He said: ”I don’t believe in secret
trial and there is no basis for it
because the government has filed
all necessary papers in court and
attached the list of witnesses. Since
the witnesses have become public
knowledge, there is no basis for
secret trial.’

Dasuki also queried the rationale
for keeping him in custody
“without any warrant”.

He said: “Since I was detained in
the custody of the Department of
State Service (DSS), I have not been
shown any warrant to this effect or
court order.

”I deserve to be shown the warrant
of detention by DSS and the
purpose for restricting me to house
arrest. My detention is unlawful.”

He urged Nigerians to prevail on
the government to admit him to
bail in line with the present
administration’s commitment to
the Rule of Law.

Dasuki said: “All those who
collected funds from ONSA have
been granted bail but I am still in
custody. I have been granted bail
on all the cases filed against me by
the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), and even DSS,
but I have not been released.

”If all the beneficiaries of the so-
called funds are on bail, what have
I done wrong? Nigerians should
help prevail on the government to
grant me bail.

”I cannot rock the boat. I am
prepared for trial. We did
everything with national and
security interest.”

Dasuki stressed that he disbursed
all the funds credited to ONSA
based on the directive of ex-
President Goodluck Jonathan.

”Based on the service rules in the
security circle, I owe it a duty to
obey the President and
Commander-In-Chief. Ex-President
Jonathan approved all the expenses
incurred by ONSA.

”I am ready to prove in court how
we complied with the directive of
the ex-President.”

Dasuki was initially arrested by the
DSS but EFCC took custody of him
for trial.

But he was later returned to DSS
facility from where he had been
going to various courts.

The EFCC had arraigned Dasuki,
and two others on 19-count charge
of misappropriation of funds
meant for purchase of arms before
a Federal Capital Territory High
Court in Maitama, Abuja.