A senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, has urged the federal government to release the former NSA to ensure his trial doesn’t become a nullity in the face of the law.

Awomolo, a life bencher, told our reporter yesterday that Dasuki being a Nigerian, is a citizen entitled to all the rights and privileges the Constitution guaranteed to every Nigerian.

“Yes, we know he is undergoing trial for ordinarily bailable offences and judges in exercise of their powers under the constitution have granted him bails and he had met all the conditions. He is entitled to defend himself with a free mind and not under detention.

“Let all Nigerians plead with the Federal Government to, on compassionate ground, reconsider his case and in the interest of our hard earned but fledgling democracy release Dasuki.

“The right to defend himself freely is a constitutional right which cannot be lightly taken away otherwise the whole proceeding will be a nullity and void but the court may order him to be brought and such order must be obeyed,” Awomolo said.

Cases involving FG and Dasuki

1.    The former NSA was on Sept 1, 2015 arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of illegal possession of arms and money laundering. He was granted bail.

2.    On Dec. 13, 2015, he was re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja alongside Shuaibu Salisu and others on 19-count charges over alleged diversion of $2.1bn.

3.    Two days later, on Dec 15, 2015, he was charged before an FCT High Court alongside Bashir Yuguda, Attahiru Bafarawa and four others over alleged diversion of $2.1bn arms funds

4.    On October 4, 2016 the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice ordered the release of the former NSA and awarded the sum of N15m compensation against the FG

5.    On July 2 a Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail on the N100m bail bond.