
Counsel to the federal government, Mohammed Diri has opposed the request by former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, for his international passport to be released to him, to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment pending ongoing trial for unlawful possession of fire arms and money laundering charges.
Arguing the case before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja today, Diri submitted that the sickness being complained of by the accused person is the type that can be successfully treated at the National Hospital Abuja.
Diri told the court that the three weeks being sought by the accused to spend in abroad was a ploy to delay his trial on charges of unlawful possession of fire-arms and money laundering.
The lawyer said that Dasuki is being investigated in another money laundering case and that the traveling passport of the accused was the only condition used in granting him bail and that if the passport is released, he may bolt away since he has no surety in the bail condition.
Arguing on application for permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, counsel to Dasuki, Joseph Daudu (SAN) said that his client is suffering from a sickness that required immediate attention of his medical doctors abroad.
The counsel appealed to Justice Ademola to grant the application and consequent orders for the release of passport of the accused now in custody of the registrar of the federal high court.
Daodu, told the court that Dasuki will return the document after the three weeks t treatment and deposit same with the court.
Daudu further argued that an accused person is presumed innocent until proved others wise saying that it is necessary to allow the accused to seek medical attention since only the living can stand trial in any law court.
Passport of the former NSA was among the items deposited as part of the bail condition granted by Justice Adeniyi Ademola.
Both parties have agreed to fix tomorrow for ruling on whether to grant the request or not. [myad]