JUST IN: Court rules on Dasuki’s application to stop his trial

– For the third time court rejects Dasuki’s application to stop his trial

– It also dismisses government’s bid to protect witnesses and for the secret trial

Former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled its decision in the case between former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki and Federal government.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who presides over the case, has stated that the trial must go on.

He stated that former NSA had not followed the proper procedure of filing a disapproval charge against the federal government.

According to the justice it was out of place for Dasuki to ask to drop accusations against him for unweighty reasons.

Ademola consequently dismissed the former NSA’s bid to stop his trial.

He said no court can compel the prosecution to either prosecute someone or prohibit it from prosecuting an individual.

The judge added, in view of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, it is not possible for the court to stay proceedings.

On the issue of court contempt, Adeniyi said the defense lawyers should have followed laid down procedure where an organization, individual or cooperate bodies are in court contempt.

Similarly, Adeniyi also dismissed an application by the prosecution to protect its witness.

He also said the prosecution did not follow processes and grounds expected in granting such.

In a separate ruling on April 19, the justice dismissed a separate application by the government seeking protection of its 11 listed witnesses ‎whom it said were afraid of appearing to testify in the case for fear of reprisal.

He held that there were no strong facts to warrant the protection of witnesses in the trial.

The justice therefore dismissed the application, stating that for the interest of justice, the trial will be open.

Upon a request by Ahmed Raji, counsel to Dasuki, the judge ordered the DSS to grant the defendant access to his lawyers.

Dasuki was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for supposedly diverting $2.1 billion meant for the procurement of arms for the Nigerian army fighting insurgents in the north-east of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Former NSA filed the application to stop his trial on the grounds that the government had on several occasions disobeyed an order of the court granting him bail.

He had asked the court to force the government to obey its order or put down the charges against him.

At the hearing of the application on March 3, Dasuki stated that the investors were losing confidence in the country because of the president’s denial to obey court orders.

The former NSA advised the court to stop his trial until the government complied with the order granting him bail.

Two judges of the court had dismissed his bid to stop his trial.

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JUST IN: Court rules on Dasuki’s application to stop his trial