The Court of Appeal, Abuja has declared the detention of former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki since December 29, 2015, by the Department of State Security Service (DSS) as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional and ordered his release on conditional bail.
The court held that the DSS and its Director General acted outside their constitutional powers on the long period of the detention of a Nigerian citizen and imposed a fine of N5m on them to be paid to Dasuki as compensation for breach of his fundamental right.
In a unanimous judgment of a 3 – man panel of Justices of the court led by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe- Wilson, the court held that the fundamental right of the ex NSA had been brazenly and brutally breached by the prolonged detention without trial in any fresh charge or investigation contrary to the provisions of the 1999 constitution.
In the lead judgment of Justice Akomolafe- Wilson, Dasuki was subsequently admitted to bail in the sum of N100m and two sureties in the like sum.
The appeal court ordered that the DSS and its Director General should not detain Dasuki again and that whenever he is required on any allegation, it must be conducted within the working days and from 9am to 6pm for him to go home.
The court also ordered that the international passport of the ex NSA shall remain with the Deputy Chief Register of the high court for the time being.