Court Orders DSS To Allow Dasuki To Travel Abroad

• Summons AGF

THE Federal High Court, Abuja Division yesterday ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki to enjoy the benefits of its order which granted him the release of his international passports to  travel  abroad for medical attention.

The court also summoned the Attorney General of Federation (AGF) to appear before it next Monday to answer questions for flouting its earlier order that Dasuki’s passports be released to him. The trial Judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola had on November 3, 2015 granted Dasuki leave to travel abroad for medical reasons. But as soon as that order was granted, DSS operatives invaded his residence in Abuja, placing him on forced house arrest.

Miffed by this development and worried about his life, Dasuki returned to the court, seeking to enforce his fundamental human rights to dignity and security of his life. He prayed the court for a mandatory order compelling the Federal Government and its agents, especially the operatives of DSSS, to vacate his house located at 13, John Kadija Street, Asokoro, Abuja with immediate effect.

In the suit filed by his counsel, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), Dasuki sought the protection of the court from the siege on his house. He asked the court to remove all impediments, human and non-human barricades and bulwarks said to have hindered the permission granted him since November 3 to travel abroad for treatment of his ailing medical condition.

In a motion on notice filed pursuant to section 36(5) 37 and 41 of the 1999 constitution and sections 1(1) and (2) and 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the ex-NSA also sought for order of the court extending the order of November 3 permitting treatment of his ailment abroad.

The motion on notice was premised on five grounds including the request to enforce the three weeks permission granted him by the court on November 3 to keep a re-rescheduled medical appointment with his physician abroad.

He claimed that the Federal Government acting through the operatives of the DSS and other security agencies, have frustrated the said order by barricading his apartment since the permission was granted.

Dasuki further asked the court to dispose with his appearance in court for the purpose of this application because of the alleged constant threats to his life by the security agencies. In a 13-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, Dasuki claimed that following the order of November 3 permitting him to go abroad for medical attention, he immediately purchased his travel ticket and boarding pass issued to him to accomplish the trip. He averred that shortly after, the operatives of the DSS acting on behalf of the Federal Government stormed and barricaded his house at Asokoro in brazen defiance of the court order and prevented him from traveling out.

He said the siege on his house ought to be immediately removed and that as a result of the aggression of the Federal Government, his life has been under constant threat.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government had preferred criminal charges of unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering against Dasuki at the Federal High Court. He denied the charges and was granted bail. As a result of his successful application, Justice Adeniyi Ademola on November 3 granted him permission to travel abroad to treat his ailment.

The grant of the permission followed the affidavit evidence filed by the Federal Government that investigations into the alleged possession of firearms and money laundering have been fully completed. However, the three weeks permission given him to go abroad for medical attention could not be enforced owing to a seeming forced house arrest since November 4, 2015.