Why We Won’t Release Dasuki – FG

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, says the federal government will not release Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA).

Speaking in an interview with Voice of America, Hausa, on Thursday, Malami said the allegations against the former NSA affects the entire nation.

According to him, Dasuki was “instrumental” to the deaths of over 100,000 people, adding that the former NSA’s right is not more important than the people of Nigeria.

He said the mismanagement of funds meant for the military under Dasuki led to the deaths of many.

Recall that on Tuesday, the federal high court in Abuja served a warrant of release of Dasuki on the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the attorney-general of the federation.

The development follows the former NSA meeting all the bail conditions imposed on him by the court.

The Court had on July 2 granted bail to Dasuki from the custody of the Department of State Service, where he had been detained for two and a half years.

But Malami said the government could resort to appealing the court order if need be.

“What I want you to know is that issues concerning law and order under Muhammadu Buhari are sacrosanct and obeying court order is compulsory,” he said.

“However you should also know that there is a general consensus world over that where the dispute is only between individuals, then you can consider the issue based on the instant situation. But if the dispute is about an issue that affects an entire nation, then you have to remember that government is about the people not for only an individual.

“So, you have to look at it from this perspective. If the issue about an individual coincides with that which affects the people of a nation and you are now saying the government did not obey a court order that infringes on a single person’s rights. Remember we are talking about a person who was instrumental to the deaths of over 100,000 people. Are you saying that the right of one person is more important than that of 100,000 who lost their lives?

“Reports have shown that there was massive mismanagement of funds meant for military hardware which the military could not access and that led to the death of many, embezzlement of the fund and because of that many people have lost their lives. Obeying the court is not the issue per say.

“Are we going to take the issue of an individual more important than that of the people? The government’s main responsibility is for and about the people. The essence of governance is to better the lives of its people. So you have to weigh it based on that; the rights of an individual or the rights of the people.”

Dasuki is being prosecuted by the federal government for alleged diversion $2.1 billion and illegal possession of arms.