Appeal Court orders Dasuki’s release from DSS custody on bail

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has declared the detention of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki since December 29, 2015, by the Department of State Security (DSS) as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional and ordered his 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 a Nigerian citizen and imposed a fine of N5 million on them to be paid to Dasuki as compensation for breach of his fundamental right.

In a unanimous judgment of a 3-man panel of Justices of the court led by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson, the court held that the fundamental right of the ex-NSA had been brutally breached by the prolonged detention without trial in any fresh charge or investigation, contrary to the provisions of the 1999 constitution.

In the lead judgment of Justice Akomolafe-Wilson, Dasuki was subsequently admitted to bail in the sum of 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 public service of the Federal or any of its agencies and shall produce valid documents of his or her status to the registrar of the federal high court in Abuja.

Each surety, Justice Akomolafe-Wilson said, must be resident within the jurisdiction of the high court and other physical address must be verified by the court registrar and shall also produce two recent passport size photographs in addition to deposing to affidavit of means.

Each of the sureties shall furnish evidence of ownership of property in the Federal Capital Territory worth N100 million, the court held.

The court also ordered that the international passport of the ex-NSA shall remain with the Deputy Chief Register of the high court for the time being.

A federal high court Judge Ijeoma Ojukwu had on July 2 2018, admitted Dasuki to bail on conditions the NSA complained to be too harsh and stringent for him and his family to perfect, especially deposit of N100 million to the high court registrar by his sureties before he can be released on bail.

The appeal court Justices set aside the harsh and stringent bail conditions of the judge for being outlandish and replaced them with the fresh ones.