Governments come and governments go, politicians come and
politicians go, but public institutions remain with us. It is the
primary reason we must strive to strengthen them and make them stronger
than any individual. Painfully, rather than strengthen our institutions
and make them strong, we build men.
We build men that become stronger than our institutions and
abuse them whenever they want to protect their interests and that of their
loved ones. Corruption and weak institutions are the two
biggest challenges facing our nation today. No nation can strive where
this exists.
If Sambo Dasuki was not stronger than the Department of State
Security Service (DSS), he would not have been able to resist its operatives
for hours.
Who Is Sambo Dasuki?
Sambo Mohammed Dasuki, is from a royal family in Sokoto. He is
the son of the former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmed Dasuki, who was deposed by
the military regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha. Dasuki is a retired Colonel
of the Nigerian Army and the former National Security Adviser (NSA) to the
President of Nigeria. He was appointed NSA by the Former President of Nigeria,
Dr. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan on June 22, 2012, following the removal of General
Owoye Andrew Azazi and was sackedby President Muhammadu Buhari on July 13,
2015.
Sambo Dasuki (then a Major) and military assistant to General
Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi participated in the military coup d’état that installed
Major General Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s Head of State.
Sambo Dasuki was also among the four (4) majors (Abubakar
Dangiwa Umar, Lawan Gwadabe, and Abdulmumini Aminu) who arrested the Nigerian
Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari in the 1985 palace coup led by
Major General Ibrahim Babangida. Following the successful execution of the
coup, He was made Aide-de-camp (ADC) to General Ibrahim Babangida.
Sambo Dasuki’s Standoff
With The DSS
A fierce standoff occurred on the evening of Thursday through the
early hours of Friday (16th &
17th July, 2015), between the operatives of
the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd,),
with the former NSA holed up in his home at 13, John Khadiya Street, Asokoro,
Abuja.
The operatives of the DSS were supposed to conduct a simple
search operation on three (3) of his properties. Two on; 13, John Khadya
Street, and 46, Nelson Mandela Street, both at Asokoro, Abuja, and the third
one on, 3, Sabon Birni Road, Gwiwa Area, Sokoto, Sokoto State.
The search
operations were planned to be simultaneously conducted, but
Dasuki reportedly refused the men of the DSS entry into his main residence
located at 13, John Khadya Street, Asokoro, despite being presented with a
genuine, legitimate and duly signed search warrant from a Magistrate Court.
There was no reason why he should have turned that down a search
warrant! That was lawlessness. There was a court order but Dasuki disregarded
it. It is a contempt court and should be treated as such accordingly.
Instead honorably honoring the search warrant and allow the
operatives to do their job, he resisted them throughout Thursday evening using
his military aides. Had the operatives of the DSS not shown professionalism in
handling the impunity displayed by Dasuki and his men, it would have resulted
in a bloody clash between the DSS and Dasuki’s military aides. The story would
have been VERY different.
If Dasuki could forcefully resist a search warrant, I wonder
what he could have done if it was an arrest warrant?
Now goes the question; why was Dasuki still having military
aides? Not one, not two, but more, after he has been sacked. The last time I
checked, he holds no public office that entitles him to military
aides. Logically, those aides should have been withdrawn the minute he was
sacked. But you see, sometimes in Nigeria, logic seems scarce.
Items Seized From Dasuki`s
Properties Search
Consequently, due to the lawlessness displayed by the former NSA
and his military aides, a search that was scheduled to last for just about two
(2) hours, lasted for more than ten (10) hours. From about 16:50 hours 16th
July, 2015 they arrived at his premises in 13, John Khadiya Street, Asokoro,
Abuja till the early hours of 17th July, 2015.
As a result of the search; the following items were seized
according to the DSS:
“Seven (7) high caliber rifles, (high assault weapons), several
magazines and military related gears. The team also recovered twelve (12) new
vehicles, out of which five (5) were bullet proofs. These vehicles which are
all exotic vehicles were retrieved from SAMBO’s residence having failed to
produce evidence of ownership”.
Is Sambo Dasuki
Witch-Hunted?
The answer is No!
Some argue that Dasuki was sacked on Monday, by Wednesday a
search warrant was already secured to search his house for illegal weapons and incriminating
items, and by Thursday his house was already besieged. Hence, he was just being
witch-hunted. But I ask; witch-hunted for what? The DSS could not have risked
wasting time on carry out such a sensitive operation knowing the magnitude of
the intelligent report gathered. As there are said to be ‘credible
intelligence’ linking him with “alleged plans to commit treasonable felony
against the Nigerian state”. If there was nothing he was hiding he would have
honorably honored the search warrant and allowed the DSS to do their job.
The refusal for Dasuki to immediately honor the search warrant
confirms the intelligent report alleged against him to have some element of
credibility.
So Why Was Sambo Dasuki not
Arrested?
I know if Dasuki was an ordinary Nigerian and he resisted a
search warrant, the story would have been different. He would have been
arrested and detained for obstructing a legitimate process approved by a
Magistrate court.
Meanwhile, Dasuki didn`t just resist a search warrant, he
intentionally delayed, obstructed the DSS operatives in the course of
performing their duties. Hence flouted the law and should have been arrested
for that.
Secondly, Dasuki should have been arrested for harboring “Seven (7) high caliber rifles,
(high assault weapons).” What on earth does he need that for?
Additionally, he should have been arrested for initiating a
standoff between his military guards and the operatives of the DSS.
The rule of law must prevail and no one should be seen to be
greater or more powerful than the laws. Whatsoever, the law cannot tolerate
from an ordinary Nigerian; it must not tolerate from any other class no matter
his or her status.
This is why the continuous call to strengthen our institutions
cannot be overemphasized; we must start by building values, structures, and
processes. With these three elements in place, no individual will be placed
above the law, government will function optimally, and accountability will be
made easy.
culled from Ynaija
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