AGF defends DSS siege to Dasuki’s residence

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), yesterday justified the continuous siege being laid to the residence of the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), by the Department of State Service (DSS), explaining that he is being held on account of other allegations.

Malami said the Federal Government did not disobey the order of a Federal High Court, Abuja which granted Dasuki the leave to travel to the United Kingdom for medical attention.

According to him, operatives of the DSS were justified when they continued to barricade Dasuki’s abode owing to his failure to submit himself to the investigation on further allegations apart from the charges pending against him before the Federal High Court.

Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, the AGF said the action of DSS with respect to Dasuki was in public interest.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja where Dasuki is being prosecuted on four counts of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms had last Monday directed the AGF or his representative to appear before the court on November 23 to clarify the Federal Government’s position on the issues relating to the order granted the ex-NSA.

While responding to a question which raised allegation that the Federal Government had flouted the November 3, 2015 order of Justice Ademola, which had permitted Dasuki to travel abroad, Malami gave an undertaking to the effect that under President Muhammadu Buhari, “there shall not be flouting of court orders”.

He said: “In some of these cases, some of these high profile culprits may be involved in multiple cases that might require investigation. If you are granted bail in respect of one issue, and the need arises for further investigation in other criminal offences, the law of the land requires investigation and you are bound as a good citizen of the country to submit yourself to investigation.

“The interest of the nation reigns supreme above an individual interest. So, when the national interest is at stake and it has to be investigated, individual interest naturally gives way.