Nigeria’s former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, (rtd) released on bail on Tuesday, after four years of detention by the DSS, said he has no feud with President Muhammadu Buhari and is ever ready to resume his trial for corruption and money laundering.
In an interview with the Hausa Service of VOA, Dasuki said he is ready to defend his over a $2.1billion money laundering allegation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“Of course, I stopped going to the court because I was granted bail but the government refused to release me and I said whenever the bail order is complied with I will appear before the court and defend myself. I am ready,” the former NSA said.
Dasuki also said he is in good health,“Thank God I am in good health. I have no ailment at all,” said Dasuki who also refused to blame the federal government for his long detention. But he argued that there must be ‘fairness.’
“There is nothing really to say to the government. Everything that happens to an individual is from God. It is only God’s will that will prevail. It is ignorance or lack of faith that pushes some to think that certain individuals are behind their predicaments.
“Everything is ordained by God. Like you said, I was detained for four year, and I am out today. Only God knows tomorrow. The only thing is that there must be fairness. Whoever goes to the Mosque on Friday must surely have heard the Imam always preach for fairness and honesty. There is a reason for that. Everyone should listen to it.”
The former NSA was first arrested on December 1, 2015, by DSS and has been arraigned in various courts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on various charges related to corruption in the management of $2.1 billion funds meant for procurement of arms for soldiers fighting Boko Haram.
Dasuki had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail by the various court.
The cases have been stalled on account of his unwillingness to attend the courts after the DSS flagrantly disobeyed the court.
On November 13, 2018, the former NSA submitted a letter to the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed, that he will no longer make himself available for trial following the “brazen violation” of his constitutional right to liberty.
But in a stunning move on Tuesday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami ordered the DSS to comply with the court order granting the former NSA bail.
Freed with him is the publisher of the Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, who also had two bail orders flagrantly disobeyed by above-law DSS.
Read the translation of Mr Dasuki’s interview with the VOA below:
VOA: How can you thank Nigerians who have been praying for your release which eventually happened today, you have your freedom?
Dasuki: There are no words enough to show appreciation for all the prayers offered. All we can do is to thank them and pray to God to reward them abundantly. We have seen the results of their prayers.
VOA: Seeing that you have spent four years in detention; do you feel healthy or you have certain health challenges?
VOA: Thank God I am in full health. I have no ailment at all.
VOA: How did you meet your family?
Dasuki: Glory to God, everyone is ok.
VOA: So what will you say to the federal government?
Dasuki: There is nothing really to say to the government. Everything that happens to an individual is from God. It is only God’s will that will prevail. It is ignorance or lack of faith that pushes some to think that certain individuals are behind their predicaments. Everything is ordained by God. Like you said, I was detained for four year and I am out today. Only God knows tomorrow. The only thing is that there must be fairness. Whoever goes to the Mosque on Friday must surely have heard the Imam always preach for fairness and honesty. There is a reason for that. Everyone should listen to it.
VOA: Are you now returning to court to prove that the allegations against you are not correct?
Dasuki: Of course, I stopped going to the court because I was granted bail but the government refused to release me and I said whenever the bail order is complied with I will appear before the court and defend myself. I am ready.
VOA: There are rumours that your predicament is traced to the fact that you were the one who arrested President Buhari during a military coup and you are now paying for it?
Dasuki: I am not aware of that. All I know is that everything is from God.
VOA: So there is no sort of feud between you and the President?
Dasuki: I have no feud with anybody. I am more than that. I can’t engage in a feud with anyone.
The VOA Hausa interview:
