Embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki
(retd) has told a Federal High Court, Abuja, that he is being punished
by some persons at the highest level of power in the country for
perceived grievances they hold against him while in active military
service many years ago.
He did not name any particular person.
In
his reply to a motion by the government requesting for his secret trial,
Dasuki told the court that he has rested his case in God for the
ultimate judgment.
“It is crystal clear that the defendant (Dasuki)
is being punished by the powers that be for the perceived offences
committed long before… we leave them to the Almighty God for his
ultimate judgment,” his counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu said.
Dasuki who is
facing charges before three different high courts for various
allegations and was granted bail but was rearrested in last December. He
has since been held incommunicado.
At the resumed trial yesterday,
the Federal Government had approached the court, seeking secret trial of
Dasuki who is facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms, money
laundering and breach of trust.
In the fresh motion argued by the
prosecuting counsel, Dipo Okpeseyi, government prayed the court to allow
witnesses give evidence behind the screen to be provided by the court.
He
held that the request hinged on the fact that Dasuki, as a former top
security chief, has large loyalists across the country who may
jeopardize the trial if done in the open.
But counsel to Dasuki opposed the request for secret trial arguing that it would breach the principle of fair trial.
He
added that contrary to the position of the government, Dasuki could not
be a threat to the witnesses as he has been in the custody of the
federal government since December last year.
Dasuki argued that open
trial is the minimum requirement in a criminal trial and as such, any
attempt to opt for a secret trial in the instant case, which was not a
capital offense will run contrary to Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution
on fail trial.
The defence counsel, therefore, asked the court to
discountenance the claim made by the prosecution on the issue of loyalty
in the military circle, stressing that such claim was a mere
speculation and not backed up by facts.
Justice Ademola fixed ruling and continuation of trial for September 13, 14 and 15.
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