A former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, may regain his
freedom as a Federal High Court Judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, on Monday formally
endorsed the bail application granted him on July 2, according to
PRNigeria.
Mr Dasuki has been detained by the State Security Service (SSS)
since December 29, 2015, when he was rearrested by security operatives.
His bail application was endorsed by Justice Ojukwu after Mr Dasuki perfected all the conditions imposed on him by the court.
Family sources told PRNigeria today that the ex-NSA through his
associates and well-wishers perfected the bail conditions which were
verified by the officials of the Federal High Court.
Legally, the endorsement of Justice Ojukwu by signing the bail papers on Monday has cleared the way for Mr Dasuki’s release.
Family members, associates and well-wishers of the detained NSA
were said to have been arriving Abuja in anticipation of his release by
the federal government in compliance with the court order.
After over two years in the detention, the court had on July 2,
2018 admitted Mr Dasuki on bail in the fundamental human right suit
filed by him. He had applied to the court to admit him to bail on the
ground that his detention since 2015 without trial was a breach of his
fundamental right to freedom of liberty.
Although charges were filed against Mr Dasuki by the federal
government in four different high courts, he was granted bails by the
courts but was not allowed to enjoy the bail. The ECOWAS Court of
Justice had also ordered his release and imposed a fine of N15 million
on the federal government for his unlawful detention. The government did
not comply with the verdict.
However, in the latest judgement, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu ordered
that Mr Dasuki be released on bail in the sum of N200 million and two
sureties in the like sum. The court said that one of the sureties must
be a federal government employee with not less than grade level 16. In
the event of a private person standing as the surety, the court held
that the person must have landed property in Abuja. Besides, Justice
Ojukwu said the surety must deposit N100 million with the registrar of
the court and that the money would be returned to the surety at the end
of the trial of the former NSA.
Shortly after leaving office in 2015, the federal government filed
corruption and arms possession charges against Mr Dasuki in different
courts. He has denied any wrongdoing.