- Dasuki’s lawyer asked for
adjournment of his client’s trial,
saying he was busy at the
Supreme Court
- The federal government’s
counsel, however, expressed
dissatisfaction with the
adjournment
- The Justice handling the case
adjourned the trial to April 9,
saying that the federal
government can proceed with
the trial whether or not Dasuki’s
lawyer appears on the next
adjourned date
The Federal High Court, Abuja,
on Thursday, February 8,
ordered that if by April 9, former
National Security Adviser (NSA),
Sambo Dasuki’s counsel fails to
appear, the federal government
can proceed with his trial.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave
the prosecuting counsel, Oladipo
Okpeseyi (SAN), the go-ahead
after he objected to a letter
written to the court by Joseph
Daudu, (SAN), seeking an
adjournment, the News Agency
of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
When the matter was called, the
court registrar read out a letter
in which Daudu informed the
court that he was attending the
Body of Benchers meeting at
the Supreme Court.
He urged the court to adjourn
the matter saying he would
appear on the next adjourned
date.
Okpeseyi expressed
dissatisfaction with the letter
saying it was pregnant with
unanswered questions.
He said: “As innocent as the
letter looks, it is pregnant
because this letter is asking the
court to decide whether the
rights and privileges of a citizen
with the authority of the court
are subservient to that of the
body of benchers.
“Whichever way the court
resolves the issue, we are
bound by the decision of the
court.
“On our part, we are ready, our
witnesses are also here in court
and the Administration of
Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) has
specified time for adjournment.”
The senior lawyer said that
should the defence counsel fail
to appear in court at the next
sitting, the court was at liberty
to proceed with the case.
Justice Mohammed gave the
prosecution the go ahead to
proceed with the trial on the
next adjourned date should the
defence counsel fails to appear.
He adjourned the matter until
April 9 and 10.
Dasuki is standing trial on
allegations bordering on illegal
possession of firearms and
money laundering.
He was arraigned in 2015 on a
five -count charge of illegal
possession of firearms and
money laundering.
previously reported news, stated
that the Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki
Progressive Association in
Sokoto state appealed to
the federal government to
release Col Dasuki (retd) on bail
in compliance with court rulings.
The family asked the
government to respect the rule
of law in handing the issues
relating to Dasuki.
In a statement issued on Friday,
December 29, 2017, by its
secretary-general, Kabiru Auwal,
and published by The Nation,
the association said the judiciary
should be encouraged to
exercise its powers without
undue interference by the
executive arm.
Source:https://www.naija.ng/1150977-court-fg-proceed-dasukis-trial-counsel-fails-by-april-9.html