Dasuki seeks interpretation of his trial by senior lawyers

The detained exNational Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), Wednesday, requested prominent lawyers in the country to intervene in his trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Dasuki, who made this plea before the court in the resumed trial of the former NSA over complexity in the arms funds sharing, said he needed the lawyers to shed more information on developments in his trial.

He listed Chief Olowole Olanipekun ( SAN), Olisa Agbakoba ( SAN), a former NBA president; Constitutional lawyer and Human Rights activist, Prof. Koyinsola Ajayi (SAN), teacher of law, Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), foremost legal practitioner, Paul Usoro, NBA President; Femi Falana SAN, Constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, as those he wanted to intervene in his trial.

The defendant at the resumed hearing, said he has filed an application dated January 8, 2019, seeking the court to invite ‘Amici Curiae’ (friends of court) for the hearing of its December 11, 2018 application which he said has become a constitutional issue.

Dasuki is standing trial on alleged illegal possession of firearms and moneylaundering and has been in detention of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2015, despite various rulings of the court, ordering his release on bail.

The Federal Government has refused to release him on bail without explanation, despite the fact that five courts have granted him bail.

However, late last year, Dasuki said he would no longer attend court proceedings to face his trial until Federal Government obeys court orders to grant him bail.

At sitting Wednesday, Adeola Adedipe, counsel to Dasuki, moved the application, urging the court to step down hearing of the December 11, 2018 application, pending the determination of the motion seeking the intervention of legal luminaries in the matter.

The application, which is supported by a 20-paragraph affidavit, is predicated on the grounds that, an ‘Amicus Curiae’ can be invited by the court at any stage of the proceedings to make contributions on novel or legal or conundrums which may have far-reaching implications on either the society or practice of the law.

In addition, the counsel said issues submitted for considerations in the defendant’s motion on notice of December 11, 2018 raised very serious and unusual situation, which have far-reaching legal implications on the viability of the 1999 constitution as amended, the Nigerian criminal jurisprudence, rule of law, and sanctity/ authority of the bench and the practice of law.

The affidavit deposed to by one Dolapo Kehinde (male), submitted that the court has inherent powers to invite and or request contributions from the enumerated Amicus Curiae, on their views with respect to the issues raised for consideration in the said application.

Recall that Dasuki, had on December 11, 2018, prayed the court for an order to adjourn sine die, his trial pending compliance by the Federal Government with the court’s judgment as delivered by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu.

Justice Ojukwu had on July 2, admitted Dasuki to bail in the sum of N200 million and declared that his continued detention by the Department of State Services since 2015 was illegal and an aberration of the law.

The court adjourned till January 29 to hear the application.

Apolice inspector identified as Mohammed Usman allegedly shot and injured two drivers in Lokoja, the Confluence state capital over bribery.

BDSUNDAY gathered that the incident happened at the Ibro Motor Park situated opposite the Lokoja International Market.

Ibrahim Yakubu, the Branch chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers of the Park, said trouble began when one of their drivers was stopped by a police team at a check point in Zango area on the Lokoja-okene highway and was asked to give the officers bribe.

According to what the driver told Yakubu, he had nothing to give to the officers when they asked him to stop and he continued his journey towards Lokoja, however, he said that the policemen who were dissatisfied with the development, gave the driver a hot chase down to the Ibro Motor Park area where he (driver) stopped his vehicle and ran to the park to seek refuge.

Yakubu said: “We were just sitting at the park at about 11 am when we started hearing sporadic gunshots. The next thing, we saw was one of our fellow drivers running to the union office.

“The next thing, we saw two policemen following him down. Our union offi- cials addressed them and then they left.

“The driver said he left his vehicle by the roadside and when we went there, we met a police inspector inside the vehicle.

“We told him that we are taking the vehicle to the park and he followed us inside. On getting to the union office at the motorpark, we told him that we had already settled the matter with the other two policemen.

“Upon hearing that, he (Inspector Mohammed Usman) became furious and brought out his gun and first shot on the ground. As he continued his sporadic shooting, a bullet hit one of our drivers, Mohammed Attah on the leg while another driver, Emmanuel was hit on the stomach.

“Following the incident, the other policemen stationed outside drove into the park with their hilux and quickly rescue the inspector and drove off.

“We then went to B Division Police Station to report the matter and the DPO followed us with the victims to Federal Medical Centre and from there we went to the state Police Command to report matter.

“The CP has ordered that the policemen involved should be detained until the outcome of victims in the hospital”, he said. He urged the Kogi Police Command to ensure justice is done in the matter.