‘Dasuki was forcefully retired for telling Abacha to install MKO as president’

Former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki is a lawfully retired officer of the Nigerian Army and not a fugitive, his lawyer affirms.

Responding to allegations that the former NSA, who is currently being held by the Department of State Services, is a fugitive who breached army service rule- the accused’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN) has declared that the claim is a fallacy and a concocted lie thought-up by the prosecution to confuse the court, following the prosecution’s inability to answer to a well-grounded objection raised by Raji while the court was in session.

While trying to justify why the DSS still have Dasuki in custody despite the bail granted him by the court, Rotimi Jacob, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the alleged money laundering case against the accused, had told the court that Dasuki was still being detained because of his past in the military.

Jacob, on Thursday, February 4, told Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf that Dasuki went on exile for seven years, which he registers is a breach of the army service rules.

However, according to Raji, his client legally left the Army in 1994 and his exit in the military was officially gazetted by the Federal government through the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar in 1999.

The lawyer stated that “the allegation of fugitive against Dasuki cannot hold water on stand in the face of the law in view of the official gazette of the Federal Government that confirmed his retirement from the military.

“It is curious that the prosecution counsel who initially claimed ignorance of the reason behind the denial of bail is now coming up with these excuses… I am tempted to believe that my learned friend Mr. Rotimi Jacob SAN must be genuinely mixing-up facts or mistake of identity.”

Raji further added: “The allegation is baseless, unwarranted and malicious because his exit was in the gazette of the Federal government. We accordingly urge those holding Dasuki in the custody in flagrant disobedience to the court order that granted him bail to have a rethink and respect the rule of law.”

In the same vein, PRNigeria reports that Dasuki was held in contempt and hounded by the former Head of State of Nigeria, late General Sani Abacha when he declared that the late MKO Abiola is the legitimate winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election and should be installed as president.

Dasuki and other officers were prematurely retired from service in 1994 for making this suggestion to the deceased Abacha.

“The resultant persecution forced Dasuki into an exile where he worked with other patriotic Nigerians to clamour for the return of democracy in Nigeria same as some top politicians in the administration of President Buhari.

Dasuki and others were declared wanted by Abacha’s police because of their fight for the return of democracy in the nation.”

Meanwhile, in an official Gazette No 33 Volume 86, Dasuki was stated to have been granted clemency and pardon along with others on March 4, 1999 by General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the then Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, for their innocence and meritorious service to their fatherland.

Gazzette 1999 on Dasuki Pardon cover (1)Gazzette 1999 on Dasuki Pardon cover

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