A High Court sitting in the the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja yesterday gave an order that former National Security Adviser (NSA) Mohammed Sambo Dasuki be allowed to have access to his lawyer Joseph Daudu (SAN) from Monday to Friday during working hours.
Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf said this would enable Dasuki defend himself on the charges brought against him.
The judge made the order following complains by Daudu that he was not granted access to his client.
The ex-NSA is being tried before Justice Baba-Yusuf with former Director of Finance and Administration in the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu and Dalhatu Investment Limited on a 22-count charge for allegedly looting about N13 billion public funds.
He urged the court to either quash the charges or halt proceedings indefinitely until he was released from detention.
At yesterday’s hearing, Daudu said he was not yet ready for trial, adding that he only met his client in court.
He appealed for an adjournment.
He said: “We are not asking for an adjournment just for adjournment sake. Perhaps if the prosecution did not flout the orders of the court, we would have finished this case long time ago.
“My lord, in this instance, the requirement is much more fundamental and for the counsel to do their work, they must be in a position to have access to materials because of the need to utilise them. And let me make this clear that I never conspired with Dasuki to be absent from court on March 23.”
But the prosecution counsel, Adebiyi Adebisi, disagreed with Dasuki’s counsel, saying the application for adjournment has no basis.
He said no substantial reason was given on why the case must be adjourned.
Adeniyi said: “The application for adjournment is illegal as it is contrary to the spirit of the Criminal Prosecution Act. There is no concrete evidence your lordship can rely on to say that anybody ever made attempt to see the first defendant and was refused.
“My lord, disregard the application for adjournment so that this trial can continue.”
He reminded the court that the Department of State Services (DSS) said they had never received any request for access from anybody.
The case was adjourned to May 3 for continuation.
