Why I am being punished by the powers that be-Dasuki 

Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, has told a federal high court in Abuja, that he was being punished by some persons at the highest level of power in the country for the perceived offences he committed some years ago while in the military.

Dasuki who did not name any particular person said that the punishment being meted on him was unfortunate because it is borne out of mere vendetta.

In his submissions while reacting to the Federal Government’s request for his secret trial Joseph Daudu SAN, counsel to Dasuki told the court that he has rested his case in God for the ultimate judgment.

“It is crystal clear that the defendant (Dasuki) is being punished by the powers that be for the offences committed long before, we leave them to the Almighty god for his ultimate judgment”, he had submitted.

Dasuki had been arraigned before three different high courts for various sums of money disbursed from his office, and was granted bail but was rearrested in December last year by the Federal Government and has since been held incommunicado.

At the resumed trial before Justice Adeniyi Ademola, the Federal Government had approached the court, seeking secret trial of Dasuki.

In the fresh motion argued by the prosecuting counsel, Dipo Okpeseyi SAN, government prayed the court to allow witnesses give evidence behind the screen to be provided by the court.

He posited that Dasuki has in the recent past held the highest security office in the country and has loyalists in the security circle whose loyalty has been transferred to personality and whose actions might be inimical to prosecution witnesses some of whom are still in the service.
He cited the case of the government witness who was involved in a serious accident, resulting in multiple fractures and injuries but however stated that in as much as he would not allude that Dasuki has a hand in the accident, it heightened the need to have the witnesses protected by the court.

He further submitted that in the highest military office where Dasuki served last, loyalty was the first,  second and the last rule and because of the peculiar nature of loyalty some persons have for him within the military and beyond, those to give evidence in the trial were at one time or the other, staff of the defendant.
He stressed that since the witnesses are those of the court whose primary duty was to assist the court arrive at a just conclusion, the issue of security must be viewed with a serious concern.

He therefore urged the court to screen the witnesses from the public in the interest of justice, and to protect them, their families and career.

However, Daudu vehemently opposed the request for secret trial of Dasuki, arguing that it will breach the principle of fair trial.
Accorsing to him, contrary to the position of the government, Dasuki cannot be a threat to the witnesses as he has been in the custody of the federal government since December last year.

Daudu argued that open trial is the minimum requirement in a criminal trial and as such, any attempt to opt for a secret trial in the instant case, which was not a capital offense will run contrary to Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution on fail trial.

The Defence counsel therefore asked the court to discountenance the claim made by the prosecution on the issue of loyalty in the military circle, stressing that such claim was a mere speculation and not backed up by facts.
The trial judge, Justice Ademola after taking argument from both parties fixed ruling and continuation of trial for September 13, 14 and 15, 2016 respectively .