By Charity NNOCHIRI


A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the immediate National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, on self-recognition after he pleaded not guilty to a one count charge of illegal possession of firearms.

Dasuki is standing trail on a one count charge of illegal possession of fire arms preferred against him by the Department of State Security who searched his home 48 hours after leaving office in July 2015.

Soon as the charge of “being in possession of firearms without license punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms CAP F28 LFN 2004” was read to him, Dasuki pleaded not guilty.

His lead defence counsel, Joseph Bodunrin Daodu (SAN) and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association asked for bail.

Daodu predicated his argument on the fact that the alleged offence was bailable and the law presumes the accused innocent until contrary was proved in court.

He pleaded that the accused was a responsible Nigerian who has held top level security office in the country without betrayal.

He relied on section 158 (1) (2) (3) of the new Administration of Justice Act and Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

Following the no-objection by the lead prosecutor, Mohammed Diri who is the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Justice Adeniyi Ademola consequently granted the bail as sought.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola thereafter admitted the accused to bail on self-recognition but ordered the deposit of all his travelling documents with the Deputy Chief Registrar, Litigation of the court.

The Judge ordered that the documents must be brought to the court in case they are in possession of the security operatives.

Dasuki who had arrived the court from home will return on October 26 and 27, when the case will resume for hearing.