Stories by Vivian Okejeme
Citizens Initiative for Security Awareness has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of former National Security Adviser NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) from unlawful detention by the federal government.
The group pleaded with the government not to be deaf and dumb to the rule of law in the matter, and allow natural justice to flow in the trial of the ex-NSA.
Speaking in Abuja, the group’s director of mobilization, Mr. Ewache Ajefu, regretted that Dasuki remained the only public officer in the custody of government even after he had been granted bail by three High Courts in the corruption charges brought against him by the federal government.
The group specifically pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari as head of the nation’s democratic government to intervene by ordering the release of the detainee.
Ajefu said Dasuki’s continued detention was worrisome and disturbing, not only to the Nigerian people but the international community because there is no single court order or warrant of arrest to justify the action of government against the detainee who has been in the custody since December 29, 2015.
Besides, the group also called on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on government to allow the rule of law in the trial in the interest of justice.
According to the group, “the only victory the government has secured so far against him is in the realm of media trial which he has been subjected to in the past two years; his name and reputation were thrashed and dragged into the mud, his bank accounts frozen and he was never allowed to visit his ailing father until he passed on.
“These are harsh treatment which in our considered opinion, should not be meted to former public officer who had put in the better part of his life in the service of his country, especially when he is yet to be convicted for any crime.
“It is therefore the contention of CISA that since the offences for which he is detained and has suffered these humiliations do not border on treason, Mr. Dasuki should be given the opportunity to state his own side of the story in the court of law, so that if he is eventually found guilty, let the law properly take its course.
“We believe that it is no longer tenable to keep him behind bars ad infinitum on the whims of whoever is keeping him.
“He is entering the third year in detention, and unless it is the plan of President Buhari to keep him out of circulation for the entire period of his four-year term, we of CISA, demand his immediate release and urge men and women of goodwill to join us in making this fair demand”, he said.
