Court Orders FG To Produce Dasuki

An Abuja Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, has directed the Federal Government (FG) to produce immediate past National Security adviser, Sambo Dasuki on February 16, 2016. The judge, while arriving at the decision, noted that the order became imperative because in a criminal matter, it is mandatory for a defendant to be physically present in court at every stage of the prosecution except where the presence of an accused is excused by court for clear reasons. Justice Ademola also expressed sadness over the failure of the FG to bring Dasuki to court for continuation of his trial, without any cogent reason. The judge said; “I am worried that the accused is not here. I do not want to set a bad precedent. “Except the court gives express order for the defendant not to be in court, the accused must be brought to court from wherever he is. “The accused must be here because I am not sure if what I am doing right now in the absence of the accused is not an illegality. “Government and whoever is concerned must endeavour to do the necessary thing. The accused having been formally charged in court, must be produced in court for trial on the appointed days in compliance with provisions of the law.”