Dasuki’s medical trip, a blow on Judiciary — TMG

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The Chairman, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Com. Ibrahim Zikirullahi, has frowned at the recent verdict of the Federal High Court in Abuja which granted request by the ex-National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, to travel abroad on health ground, describing it as a big blow on the judiciary.
Former national security adviser of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki (R), speaks with his lawyer Ahmed Raji, during his trial at the federal high court in Abuja, on September 1, 2015. Nigerian prosecutors on September 1, 2015 slapped a charge of unlawful possession of arms against Dasuki. Dasuki was arraigned on a "one-count charge of being in possession of firearms without licence," Prosecutor Mohammed Diri told the federal high court in Abuja. AFP PHOTO

Dasuki is facing trial on allegations of money laundering involving about N84.6m and illegal possession of arms.

The group further viewed the decision of the court as a of providing soft-landing for Dasuki and shield him from facing trial.
Zikirullahi, who stated this at a press conference on the state of the nation, in Abuja, noted that the verdict reflected the two sides of a coin of justice system in Nigeria; “one for the masses and the other for the rich”.

“TMG frowns at the entrenched culture of dispensation of justice in which, the justice system heavily acts on the side of the rich and powerful, no matter their crimes, while being in a hurry to punish the poor.

“In recent judgment of a section of the judiciary, TMG notes with revulsion the clear existence of one kind of justice for the rich, and another kind of poor.

“We have seen this playing out with the case of the former National security adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), who is standing trial over allegations of money laundering and illegal possession of arms. In spite of these grave charges against him, the Judiciary went ahead to grant him bail on self-recognition. That would clearly not have been the case, if the person involved was an ordinary citizen.

“TMG has an axe to grind with a recent judicial ruling in which the authorities were ordered to return the travelling documents of the ex-NSA, Sambo Dasuki to enable him travel abroad for medical attention.

“It is ironic and reprehensible that those whose activities denied the nation of the opportunity of building and maintaining a world class health system are getting judicial reprieve to go get treatment outside the shores of our country.’’

Source: Vanguard