Appeal Court Orders Release Of Dasuki From Detention

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has declared the continued detention of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), by the Department of State Services (DSS) as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. Consequently, the court ordered Dasuki’s release on conditional bail. 

The appellate court held that the DSS and its director-general acted outside their constitutional powers on the long period of the detention of the Nigerian and imposed a fine of N5million on them to be paid to Dasuki as compensation for the breach of his fundamental right. In the unanimous judgment of a three-man panel led by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson, the court held that the fundamental right of the former NSA had been brazenly and brutally breached by the prolonged detention without trial over any fresh charge or investigation contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. 

In the lead judgment of Justice Akomolafe-Wilson, Dasuki, who has been in detention since December 29, 2015, was subsequently admitted to bail with N100 million and two sureties in the like sum. The two sureties shall be serving public servants, not below the status of level 16 officers in either state or federal public service or any of its agencies and shall produce valid documents of his or her status to the registrar of the Abuja Federal High Court.

(Guardian)