…Stand-off may be resolved by AGF this Monday
In defiance of a second court order in the space of two weeks, the Department of State Services (DSS) has refused to vacate the Abuja residence of the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), in order to allow him to travel for medical treatment abroad.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja last Friday directed the DSS to end their siege to Dasuki’s home, while chiding the service for its flagrant violation of the first ruling by the court.

But on Sunday more than 48 hours after Justice Adeniyi Ademola’s order, the personnel of the DSS had refused to budge and continued the house arrest of the ex-NSA.

“They are still holding the former NSA hostage despite the court order. Can you imagine how they are gradually leading the nation into a totalitarian regime?

“When an agency of government can openly disregard a court order not once but on several occasions, deciding what and when to obey it is pure dictatorship,” a source close to Dasuki said.

However, the source expressed hope that the stand-off might be resolved today when the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Alhaji Abubakar Malami (SAN), who is scheduled to appear at the court, explains the siege to the residence of the ex-NSA.

Malami 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 issued the summons following complaints by Dasuki’s lawyers led by Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN) that the order of the court had not been obeyed by operatives of the DSS.
Among others, Dasuki’s lawyer protested to the court that nine days after the court granted Dasuki permission to travel abroad for treatment, DSS operatives had since November 4 placed him under house. 

Counsel to the federal government and DSS, Shuibu Labaran, who declined to confirm or deny the presence of the security operatives at the home of Dasuki in breach of the court order, however admitted that the former NSA was being investigated in another money laundering matter.

But Justice Ademola, who was not comfortable with the violation of his order, told the federal government’s counsel to inform his clients to learn how to respect and obey a valid court order.
The judge said he was baffled about the claim of a further investigation of Dasuki by DSS because the same agency had in a court affidavit stated that it had completed its investigation of the defendant and was ready for his trial.
He said even if the DSS had any cause to conduct further investigations, the lawful thing was to have allowed Dasuki to go abroad for treatment as ordered by his court rather than look for excuses to justify its disobedience of the order. 
The court fixed today for definite hearing of the suit.
