Items Recovered From Dasuki showed he planned treasonable felony –DSS

The Department of State Services (DSS) has explained why the
residence of for­mer National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Da­suki
(retd) was searched.

In a statement signed by Tony Opuiyo released to the press late last
night, the DSS said his residence was searched following intelli­gence
report that Dasuki was planning to commit treason­able felony against
the Nige­rian State.

He said Dasuki despite be­ing presented with a genuine and duly
signed search war­rant, tried to prevent the oper­atives from entering
his main residence located at No. 13 John Khadya Street, Asokoro,
forcing the operations initially meant to last two hours to drag for 10
hours.

The DSS while denying any form of witch-hunting Dasuki, listed items
recovered from the ex-NSA’s home dur­ing the search to include seven
high calibre rifles, (high as­sault weapons), several maga­zines and
military gears.

“Also recovered were 12 new vehicles, out of which five were bullet
proofs. “These vehicles which are all exotic vehicles were retrieved
from Sambo’s residence hav­ing failed to produce evidence of ownership,”
the DSS said.

The statement reads:

On 16th July, 2015, about 1650 hours, based on credible intelligence
linking the imme­diate past NSA, Mohammed Sambo DASUKI (Col Rtd) with
alleged plans to com­mit treasonable felony against the Nigerian State,
operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) conducted a search
on the properties be­longing to the former NSA, Mohammed Sambo DASU­KI
(Col Rtd). The properties are on Nos. 13, John Khadya Street, Nos. 46,
Nelson Man­dela Street, both at Asokoro, Abuja, and Nos. 3 Sabon Birni
Road, Gwiwa Area, Sokoto, Sokoto State.

The search operations was planned to be simultaneously conducted, but
DASUKI, refused the operatives entry into his main residence lo­cated
at No. 13 John Khadya Street, Asokoro, despite be­ing presented with a
genuine and duly signed search war­rant. Consequently, what was to last
not more than two (2) hours, lasted more than ten (10) hours, up till
the early hours of 17th July, 2015.

Indeed if not for the sense of maturity and professional­ism of the
officers and men assigned this task and the very good understanding and
timely intervention of the new Chief of Army Staff, Tsukur Y. Buratai
(Maj Gen), there would have been a clash be­tween the Army operatives
guarding the house and Ser­vice operatives, as Sambo di­rected the
soldiers on duty not to allow any movement into his house, despite the
subsist­ing court order. Sambo there­after raised a false alarm to the
military authorities to come to his aid as he failed to correctly tell
the military that his proper­ty was about to be legitimately searched.

Gentlemen, please recall that Sambo retired from the Army as a
Colonel, and there­fore not entitled to have mili­tary guards, if not
for the fact he was NSA. Even as NSA, such guards should have been
withdrawn after his removal as NSA since he would not have been
entitled.

The search was thoroughly conducted, and several items recovered,
among which were some incriminating items. These include seven (7) high
caliber rifles, (high assault weapons), several magazines and military
related gears.

The team also recovered twelve (12) new vehicles, out of which five
(5) were bullet proofs. These vehicles which are all exotic vehicles
were retrieved from SAMBO’s residence having failed to pro­duce evidence
of ownership. For instance, what could he be doing with five (5) bullet
proof cars as a retired NSA?. These cars which from all available
evidence were purchased with tax payers money, were being kept for
possible sinister enter­prise.

The Service would want to state categorically that this search
operation is not a witch hunt. The Service decided to move at this time
in line with current Management resolve to be proactive and pre-empt
individuals with penchant for impunity and lawlessness from putting back
the nation to the dark days. The Service is also aware that the lethal
arms and the vehicles recovered were not reflected in Sambo’s handover
notes or what could a former NSA be doing with destructive weapons and
bul­let proof cars which put to­gether could disrupt the peace of any
city in Nigeria for a while.

On the search of his three (3) properties, including the Sokoto
residence, the Service is aware that in his capacity and given his
antecedents, he might decide to use any of his residences for such
diabolical plans, rather than his main residence.

Gentlemen of the press, the Service Management would want to assure
members of the public that it would not trample on the freedom of
individuals or groups as guar­anteed by the Nigerian Con­stitution and
emphasized by the current administration’s position on transparency, and
probity underlined by justice and equity for all Nigerians. This is the
driving force for all DSS operations. However, the Service would not
hesitate to go after any person or group of persons, no matter how
highly placed once such indi­vidual (s) breach or attempt to breach the
laws of the Federa­tion. The days for impunity and indecisiveness in the
face of unpatriotic acts by individu­als operating against the State
are over.

The Service hereby appeal to all Nigerians to be law abid­ing and
partner with it in en­suring a peaceful and secured nation. In the same
vein, those that are bent on breaking the rules governing our peaceful
co-existence due to either the huge ill gotten wealth they have acquired
or imaginary hold they think they have on our nation’s survival, are
be­ing warned to rethink. The DSS will use all constitutional means as
defined by its man­date to deal decisively with such unpatriotic
individuals.

The Management want to seize this opportunity to appreciate Nigerians
for the tremendous acts of goodwill that is being extended to the new
dispensation. The Man­agement also wish to assure Nigerians that the
gesture and confidence being expressed will be reciprocated with more
dedication and service to our dear country Nigeria.