The Department for State Services (DSS) has justified its invasion of the residence of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), accusing him of treasonable felony, corruption, misuse of power and possession of destructive weapons. The DSS also is suspecting him of having links to Boko Haram.
Treason is another word for coup plot. The offence is a capital offence according to
section 37(1) of the Criminal Code Act. It is defined as:
“Any person who levies war against the state, in order to
intimidate or overawe the president or the governor of a state is guilty of treason and is liable to the punishment of death.
“Any person conspiring with any person, either within or without Nigeria, to levy war against the state with the intent to cause such leving of war as would be treason if committed by a citizen of Nigeria, is guilty of treason and is liable to punishment of death. Again, by section 38 of the Criminal Code, any person who instigates any foreigner to invade Nigeria with an Armed Force is guilty of treason and is liable to the punishment of death.”
The DSS said it recovered seven high calibre rifles, (high assault weapons), several magazines, military related gears and 12 new vehicles which included five bullet proof cars from Dasuki’s home.
The DSS said the items recovered from the former NSA were capable of disrupting the peace of any city in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by an official of the DSS, Tony Opuiyo, the intelligence agency said the ex-NSA was not forthcoming with the truth in his account of what transpired in his house.
The DSS had invaded the residence of the former NSA on Thursday and put him under movement restriction till Friday evening.
It was gathered that operatives refused him access to his family members during the raid and the period of his restriction.
He could not step out of his house to participate in Eid Fitr prayers which were held after the Islamic fasting exercise.
The DSS in the statement justified its actions saying it had “credible intelligence linking Dasuki with alleged plans to commit treasonable felony against the Nigerian State.”
Opuiyo said: “DSS conducted a search on the properties belonging to the former NSA. The properties are on Nos. 13, John Khadya Street, Nos. 46, Nelson Mandela Street, both at Asokoro, Abuja, and Nos. 3 Sabon Birni Road, Gwiwa Area, Sokoto, Sokoto State.
“The search operations were planned to be simultaneously conducted, but Dasuki refused the operatives entry into his main residence located at No. 13 John Khadya Street, Asokoro, despite being presented with a genuine and duly signed search warrant. Consequently, what was to last not more than two hours, lasted more than 10 hours, up till the early hours of July 17.
“If not for the sense of maturity and professionalism of the officers and men assigned this task and the very good understanding and timely intervention of the new Chief of Army Staff, Tsukur Buratai (Maj Gen), there would have been a clash between the Army operatives guarding the house and service operatives, as Dasuki directed the soldiers on duty not to allow any movement into his house, despite the subsisting court order.”
Opuiyo further said Dasuki thereafter raised the alarm to the military authorities to come to his aid.
The DSS also accused Dasuki of using military guards despite his removal as NSA.
Opuiyo said: “He retired from the Army as a colonel, and therefore, not entitled to have military guards, if not for the fact that he was NSA. Even as NSA, such guards should have been withdrawn after his removal as NSA since he would not have been entitled.
“Twelve exotic vehicles were retrieved from Dasuki’s residence having failed to produce evidence of ownership. For instance, what could he be doing with five bullet proof cars as a retired NSA? These cars, which from all available evidence, were purchased with tax payers’ money were being kept for possible sinister enterprise.”
The security agency added that the search operation was not a witch hunt but that it decided to move in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to be proactive and pre-empt individuals with penchant for impunity and lawlessness from putting back the nation to the dark days.
It further said the lethal arms and vehicles recovered were not reflected in Dasuki’s handover notes.
“What could a former NSA be doing with destructive weapons and bullet proof cars which put together could disrupt the peace of any city in Nigeria for a while?
“On the search of his three properties, including the Sokoto residence, the Service is aware that in his capacity and given his antecedents, he might decide to use any of his residences for such diabolical plans, rather than his main residence,” Opuiyo added.
The service vowed that it would use all constitutional means to deal decisively with those that are bent on breaking the rules governing Nigeria’s peaceful co-existence due to either the huge ill-gotten wealth they have acquired or imaginary hold they think they have on the nation’s survival.