The recent simultaneous invasion of the houses of the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) in Abuja and Sokoto by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) has elicited mixed reactions among Nigerians on the propriety or otherwise of such raids even when it was carried out with a valid search warrant. Since the incident, Nigerians have been sharply divided between opinions on the true intentions of the DSS authorities and the style of operation employed in the course of the saga. Following this, the Service issued a statement attempting to clarify the issue while blaming Dasuki for the imbroglio.


However, on taking a closer look at the press release by the DSS, one can say that as noble as the cause of the Service might be made to look, there are some elements that portray the exercise as a witch hunt and the press release by the security outfit was only an after-thought.


The gravity of the offence upon which the Service acted was too dangerous to toy with. To claim to have had credible intelligence linking Dasuki with treasonable felony against the Nigerian State only to find seven high caliber rifles, (high assault weapons), several magazines and military related gears and twelve exotic cars five of which were bullet-proof makes a caricature of the seriousness of the whole exercise. If, indeed, the DSS had such credible intelligence linking the former NSA to treasonable felony against the Nigerian State, why did they go to his houses with only a search warrant and no arrest warrant.

When did suspects of treason start enjoying the liberty of freedom even for a minute after being linked to such a grave offence? Who were the suspected accomplices? Or did Dasuki plan to overrun Nigeria alone and with weapons not even anywhere enough to overthrow a rag-tag local government not to talk of the Nigerian State? Why do we make a mess of serious issues in this country either out of overzealousness or the appetite to be seen to be working while in actual fact we are not doing anything but only putting up an image of ourselves like a people in a clownish circus show?


The DSS’ claim that Dasuki was not supposed to have military guards two days after he was removed as NSA and that such guards should have been withdrawn from him after he left office was just another shocker.

Whose responsibility was it to withdraw the military guards? Was it Dasuki’s responsibility to withdraw the guards or that of the military authorities? Did the military authorities order the withdrawal of the guards and Dasuki stopped them from obeying the order? Why did the DSS portray Dasuki as if he deliberately refused to withdraw the guards when he had no such powers? Let it also be made abundantly clear that Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) was entitled to military guards as National Security Adviser. The military guarding his house were not there because Dasuki was a colonel in the Nigerian Army, they were there because the man was our NSA!


Agreed that it is over the board for one man to “own” twelve exotic cars, it is equally preposterous to categorically claim that such cars were “being kept for possible sinister enterprise”. Without holding brief for the former NSA, what the DSS is trying to make Nigerians understand is that the numerous millionaires who own fleet of cars running even beyond twelve are keeping them for “possible sinister enterprise” which in this case meant treason.


While Dasuki may have questions to answer for his actions or inactions while in office as NSA, it is totally unfair and smacks of vengeance and vendetta, the invasion of his houses in the manner the DSS did. To accuse him of treasonable felony and yet allow him to walk free after invading his house with only a search warrant without an arrest warrant shows that the real intentions of the DSS are clouded.

We urge the DSS and other security outfits to be professional and exercise the highest level of restraint and respect for the rights of citizens as expected in a civilised and democratic society like ours as no one is guilty under our law until proven so by competent courts. The razzmatazz with which our security agencies carry out such exercises as the one against Dasuki is part of what makes them lose cases in their numbers when they eventually get to the courts. Instead of them to carry out painstaking investigations against suspects they rather delight in wielding their guns in bravado manner only for their cases to fail repeatedly like packs of cards in court the EFCC style.


Finally, the reason adduced by the Service for that exercise which is “to be proactive and pre-empt individuals with penchant for impunity and lawlessness from putting back the nation to the dark days” in reference to Dasuki is most uncharitable. No matter the issue, those who helped in chasing Boko Haram out of Sambisa forest before their recent renewed incessant attacks deserve some respect and rights even if eventually found guilty by the courts.

That is the norm in civilized climes; that is the least expected from agents of government. I just hope we are not being driven back to the dark days when some of our security forces were used for some sinister enterprise against the citizens who dared to disagree with them and speak out against the government of the day and or its policies!

bobbiekrantz:
Dasuki Is just a disappointment to loyalty!!

He was among those that toppled GEJ's Government but he can now see that you gain nothing from being A shameless disappointment..

WombRaiders:
www.nairaland.com/attachments/2642558_roadhighwaybluegenerator_jpeg855a70eb2d07abff4c56b74b4ecd643f

Buhari was in his 40's and not a naive teenager when he overthrew an elected civilian govt and plunged Nigeria into its most despotic era.


I wonder why his foolish supporters like Soyinka and Falana who welcomed IBB's coup against Buhari will think this leopard change his spots.

[size=18pt]A despot at 40 is a despot for life![/size]

The funny thing his blind supporters can not comprehend is that Buhari in his fake koworption war is actually silencing would be political rivals to pave way for his absolute rule.

WombRaiders:


Dasuki is a back stabber to Jonathan but the reason he is being prosecuted are because:

1. His nomination was from IBB who Buhari hates with a passion.

2. Dasuki knows too much about the Buhari and Boko Haram link especially the fake assassination attempt of Buhari.


Buhari is desperate.

If, indeed, the DSS had such credible intelligence linking the former NSA to treasonable felony against the Nigerian State, why did they go t his houses with only a search warrant and no arrest warrant.

adekennis:
The Wallers are doing what they know how to do best..Keep wailling!!!!!!!

kaypound:
Oga dansuki...today you are singing against your former employer jonthan talking about how you supported buhari get his mandate and tomorrow you are singing you being witch hunted because of 1985 coup which everyone knows you are not the only military officer that took part in the arrest of buhari....even the leader of the coup IBB is not being persecuted. .....are you a kennry bird singing to the press? abeg save us the wailings...dansuki, with the way you are going about your predicament....it is obvious you have skeletons in your cupboard to hide and you are trying to take advantage of the democratic dispensation and diversity in opinions to whip public sympathy. You must give account for the billion of dollars allocated to your office as defence budget and answer all the questions why fairly used military hard ware was bought as against new ones and why our gallant army was afraid fight boko haram because they lacked the right equipments...imagine the nigerian army running because he ran out of bullets or our Apc armoured tanks breaking down at war front because na tokunbo engine dem buy? Very sad indeed. And believe it you will do your time in jail if found gulity of the crime. You can't make wife's widows and children fatherless because of your greed and corruption. Stop trying to hide under one finger face the music. Personally I hate disloyalty regardless of your affiliations.

WombRaiders:

2. Dasuki knows too much about the Buhari and Boko Haram link especially the fake assassination attempt of Buhari

omenka:
Didn't bother reading all that crap. No one expects him to say anything different since his butt is on fire.

They would always try to rally the public to their side when the heat is on them but never do so when they are looting the treasury.

And for those Wailers above, don't you guys feel irritated from the stool you feed on daily?? When this guy was arrested, you Wailed "oh, Baba is being vindictive". When he said he doesn't deserve how he is being treated because he helped the opposition to power, you went "he's a traitor that deserves to be shot dead. He's a betrayer and a boko sympathiser". Now he's taken a swipe at the government and you guys are best buddies once again!!

Never seen a more foolish set of people my whole life.

sammyj:
If this will stop corruption and impunity then be ready to stay in the dark age till the end of your life !!!!