The Department of State Service (DSS) is expected to make former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki, available to his counsel, from today (June 13), according to an order of a court of the Federal Capital Territory, given on May 25, 2016.

The court presided by Justice Peter Affen, ordered the security agents to make Dasuki available to his legal team led by Joseph Daudu (SAN) from June 13, to June 22, 2016.

Justice Affen, in his ruling on an application by Dasuki, said it is in the interest of justice that Dasuki be allowed to have access to the lawyers of his choice as required by law and in the interest of fair trial.

Dasuki’s briefing with his counsel is expected to hold on the appointed days between 9a.m to 4p.m every day and is required to be confidential, the court had ruled.
Counsel to the prosecuting Federal Government, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), had though vehemently objected to the request of Dasuki for access to his lawyers.

Rotimi claimed that there was no evidence before the court that Dasuki’s lawyers made any attempt to visit the headquarters of the DSS to take briefing from their clients.

He therefore, submitted that the request was a ploy to delay the trial and prayed the court not to indulge the defendant in the request, as doing so would further delay the trial.

In his ruling, Justice Affen disagreed with the prosecution counsel, stating that it is in the interest of fair trial and constitutional matter that an accused person be allowed unfettered access to the legal practitioners of his choice in order to prepare his defense.

Justice Affen said that in the instance, the defendant had made it clear that he was being detained and denied access to his legal practitioners and asked the prosecution, in the interest of justice, to comply with the new order on accessibility to the counsel by Dasuki.

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