The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Malami (SAN) is expected to appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja on November 23 to explain why the security personnel are still laying siege at the Abuja residence of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Mohammed Dasuki (rtd.).
Justice Adeniyi Ademola extended the date because the new Solicitor General of the Federation, Taiwo Abidogun asked for it, having informed the court that Malami was yet to assume office.
The Solicitor General said the Justice minister will assume office on Wednesday and will be briefed on Dasuki’s court action between Thursday and Friday, requesting the court to grant them permission to appear in the court next week Monday.
He told Justice Ademola that the Federal Ministry of Justice has tremendous respect for the court and the rule of law and will not do anything to undermine court powers.
The Minister, who had just been inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari, will also explain to the court why an order of the court made on November 3 permitting Dasuki to travel abroad for medical attention was violated.
Justice Ademola had last Friday issued a summon against the AGF following complaints by Daudu that the order of the court made since November 3 had not been allowed to be implemented by operatives of the Department State Services.
Among others, Dasuki’s lawyer protested to the court that several days after the court ordered Dasuki to travel abroad for treatment, the DSS operatives had since November 4 placed him under house arrest.
Counsel to Federal Government, Shuaibu Labaran, who had declined to confirm or deny the presence of the security operatives in the house of Dasuki in breach of the court order, however admitted that the former NSA was being investigated.
Justice Ademola, who was not comfortable with the violation of his order, told the Federal Government counsel to inform his client to learn how to respect and obey a valid court order.
The Judge said he was baffled with the claim of any further investigation of Dasuki by the DSS because the same Agency had filed before the court affidavit evidence that it had completed investigations on Dasuki and ready for his trial.
He said even if the DSS had any cause to conduct any further investigation, the lawful thing was to have allowed Dasuki to go abroad for treatment of his ailment as ordered by his court rather than looking for excuses to justify disobedience to the order.
“I have made an order, which has to be obeyed, and the order is to the effect that the accused be allowed to go abroad as from November 4 to treat his ailment within three weeks and return to the court on November 26 for his trial in the charges brought against him.
“If you have any further issue with him, let him go for his medical checkup and come back.
“It is the duty of all Nigerians to ensure that court orders are obeyed.”
Dasuki had filed an application against the Federal Government seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights to dignity and security of his life.
He also applied to the court to compel the Federal Government to allow him travel abroad to treat his ailment as ordered by the court since November 3.
Dasuki complained that rather than allow him to seek medical treatment, the Federal Government agents, mainly operatives of the DSS, had laid siege on his house and kept him under house arrest in spite of his deteriorating health condition.
Hearing of the suit has been scheduled for next Monday. [myad]
