Odumakin opposes secret trial for Dasuki

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The President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Mrs. Joe Okei-Odumakin, has faulted the call on a Federal High Court in Abuja to commence a secret trial of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Dasuki is facing five counts of illegal arms possession and money laundering involving about N84.6m.

The Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Diri, on Monday, had asked the court to bar the public from Dasuki’s trial and requested that the identities of the witnesses who would testify in the trial be concealed for security reasons.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, on Tuesday, while granting Dasuki permission to travel abroad for a three-week medical check-up, however, adjourned ruling on the application for a secret trial to November 26.

But Okei-Odumakin, in an interview with our correspondent, described the proposed secret trial of Dasuki as unnecessary.

She said, “In most cases, secret trials are conducted in cases that are terror-related and this, oftentimes, is done for the protection of witnesses in such cases. For the trial of Dasuki, I think the idea of secret trial is unnecessary, more so that it involves alleged money laundering.

“Nigerians will be interested in how cases of corruption are prosecuted and secret trials will deny them of such an opportunity. The implications are that the accused may turn around to accuse the government of having a hidden agenda while on the other hand, it may create tendencies for cover-ups which may not also be in the interest of justice for the Nigerian people.”

According to the activist, contrary to the argument of the prosecution, the former NSA’s permission to travel for three weeks on medical grounds should not in any way hinder a continuation of the trial as soon as he returns to the country.

Okei-Odumakin further ruled out the possibility of political forces behind the trial.

“There is nothing like a witch-hunt as long as such an accusation is duly prosecuted in the court of law under the constitution. Money laundering is an issue of corruption and whosoever is accused may be made to face the law. It now left for the courts to agree that such offences have been committed or not.

“The implication is simple, it will go a long way in establishing the fact that nobody is above the law if found wanting or seen to have committed any criminal act,” she said.

Source: Punch