An FCT High Court in Maitama has issued a production warrant on the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to produce former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki in court for his trial.
The judge, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, issued the order yesterday, following the absence of Dasuki in court for his trial over allegations of criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
Dasuki was charged with a former General Executive Director at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba Kusa; Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital.
At the resumed hearing yesterday, prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe told the court that while the prosecution was in court with witnesses that came from Port Harcourt, Dasuki, who is the first defendant, was not in court.
However, Dasuki’s counsel, Victor Okwudiri, said it was surprising that the prosecution was seeking an explanation from the defence on the whereabouts of Dasuki, who he said was in the custody of the government against the orders of the court.
Responding, Atolagbe said “The EFCC cannot produce the first defendant (Dasuki) because he is not in our custody,” adding that the trial court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court have all held that Dasuki was in the custody of the DSS.
He applied for the court to issue a production warrant on the DSS to produce Dasuki on the next adjourned date.
Ruling on the application, Justice Baba-Yusuf held that the information before the court was that Dasuki was in the custody of the DSS and that the prosecution (EFCC) was to liaise with the DSS to produce him in court any time his case comes up.
“But it appears the prosecution has failed to do so and did not provide any explanation for failing to do so. Hence, I will issue a production warrant on the Director General of DSS to ensure the presence of the first defendant (Dasuki) in court on the next adjourned date,” he held while adjourning the case to May 24 for the continuation of hearing.
DT
