Dasuki: I’m Not Guilty

Sambo Dasuki (Image source: BBC)

•Trial opens October 26

Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Sambo Dasuki was arraigned yesterday before a Federal High Court in Abuja by the Federal Government. Dasuki was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on illegal possession of fire arms, an offence punishable under section 27(i) (a)(i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 LFN 2004 and which attracts 14 years jail term.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, following which the trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola granted him bail on self recognisance, upon an application by his lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

The Nation report continues:

Daudu said his client will neither abscond nor interfere with prosecution witnesses if granted bail, because the prosecution has said investigation has been concluded in the case.

The prosecution lawyer, Mohammed Diri did not oppose the application for bail, but left the issue at the court’s discretion.

Justice Ademola ordered Dasuki to deposit all his international passports with the court’s Deputy Registrar, Litigation. He ordered that the passports should be retrieved, if they are currently being held by other government agencies, and handed to the named court’s official.

The judge fixed October 26 for the commencement of trial.

Dressed in sky-blue kaftan and a cap, Dasuki arrived the court around 8.30am before even his lawyers and the prosecution team arrived the court. At the commencement of proceedings around 9.30am, Dasuki walked straight into the dock when the charge was called.

Dasuki, who the judge permitted to sit in the dock, maintained a straight face throughout the proceedings that lasted about one hour.

The prosecution said it intends to tender 10 sets of items recovered from Dasuki’s Abuja residence, located at John Khadiya Street, Asokoro by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS), who searched his houses both in Abuja and outside on July 16.

The items include

*Five Tavor riffles

*20 magazines,

*Five rifle slings

*Five packets of rifle servicing kit,

*One packet of MOD AP9 calibre 9mm Luger No: 033373

*Small magazine containing 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition and bigger magazine containing 23 *Five rounds of 9mm ammunition.

*One Macro Uzi with serial No 60244.

*One magazine with 16 rounds of live 9mm ammunition

*36 rounds of live 9mm ammunition.

Some of the items were said to have been recovered from his Range Rover car with number plate Abuja RBC 517 JN.