The Nigerian Government on Tuesday ordered the release of
former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki and Sahara Reporters
publisher Omoyele Sowore from detention.
“I have directed the State Security Services (DSS) to comply
with the order granting bail to the Defendants and effect their release,”
Nigeria’s justice minister and attorney general of the federation (AGF),
Abubakar Malami said in a statement.
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Malami said the decision to release them was in compliance
with the bail granted to both Dasuki and Sowore by the courts.
“The two defendants are enjoined to observe the terms of
their bail and refrain from engaging in any act that is inimical to public
peace and national security as well as their ongoing trial which will run its
course in accordance with the laws of the land,” Malami said.
Their release comes three days after six lawmakers of the
United State (US)- Robert Menendez, Charles Schumer, Christopher Coons, Cory
Booker, Bill Pascrell and Josh Gottheimer wrote a letter of concern to Malami
over Nigeria’s disregard to court orders.
The lawmakers said Nigeria risks tarnishing its
international reputation over Sowore’s indefinite detention and that “it will
best serve Nigeria’s interests to protect and uphold the very legal systems
that provide for stability and open dialogue.”
Operatives of the Department of Security Service (DSS)
arrested Sowore on Saturday, August 3 after calling for a nationwide protest
tagged #RevolutionNow.
The protest, after his arrest, was in major parts of the
country. It focused on governance and government accountability to the people.
But the Nigerian government said Sowore was plotting to
overthrow Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and charged him with treasonable
felony, money laundering and terrorism.
After disobeying two court orders that granted Sowore bail
within the first 124 days he spent in detention, the DSS released him on
Thursday, December 5 and rearrested him on Friday, December 6 with no court
order to do so.
Also, Dasuki, who served as national security adviser under
former President Goodluck Jonathan, had been in detention for over four years
despite four court orders, including an ECOWAS court granting him bail.
Dasuki was tried for alleged misappropriation of N19.4
billion arms funds while in government.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja in July 2019 declared that the
continued detention of Dasuki by the DSS was illegal, unlawful and
unconstitutional.
Malami’s statement was silent on the fate of the leader of
the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) Ibrahim El-Zakzakky and his wife, who are
still in custody after being granted bail more than twice.