Sambo Dasuki Was Planning A Treasonable Felony – SSS

8 years ago

Sambo Dasuki Was Planning A Treasonable Felony – SSS

There was a new twist in the saga between former National Security Adviser (NSA) to former president Goodluck Jonathan, Col Sambo Dasuki (Retd) and the the Department of State Service (DSS), following claims by the Department of State Service (DSS) yesterday that the siege to his residences in Abuja and Sokoto followed alleged attempts by the former NSA to commit treasonable felony against the country.

The DSS said the siege to the residences was to prevent the planned attempt.

The service, in a statement late yesterday night, signed by one Tony Opuiyo, said they recovered Five exotic bullet-proof cars and over seven automatic rifles during their search of Dasuki’s residences.

According to the statement, Dasuki resisted the SSS operatives from carrying out their constitutional responsibility even when he was presented with a search warrant.

Recall that SSS operatives Thursday stormed three of the residences of the former NSA in Abuja and Sokoto state, during which incriminating items including arms were found in his possession.

The SSS statement titled ‘Preventing attempts to commit treasonable felony: the search on the residences of Mohammed Sambo Dasuki’ reads in part, “On 16th July, 2015, about 1650 hours, based on credible intelligence linking the immediate past NSA, Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (Col Rtd) with alleged plans to commit treasonable felony against the Nigerian state, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) conducted a search on the properties belonging to the former NSA, Mohammed Sambo DASUKI (Col Rtd). 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.
DSS operatives

“The search operations was 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 (2) hours, lasted more than ten (10) hours, up till the early hours of 17th July, 2015. Indeed 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, Tukur Y. Buratai (Maj Gen), there would have been a clash between the Army operatives guarding the house and Service operatives, as Sambo directed the soldiers on duty not to allow any movement into his house, despite the subsisting court order. Sambo thereafter raised a false alarm to the military authorities to come to his aid as he failed to correctly tell the military that his property was about to be legitimately searched.”

The DSS, in the statement, recalled that Sambo retired from the Army as a colonel and was therefore not entitled to have military guards if not for the fact he was NSA, pointing out that even as NSA, such guards should have been withdrawn after his removal as NSA since he would not have been entitled.

It further stated that during the search, which was thoroughly conducted, several items were recovered, among them incriminating items.

“These include 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. For instance, what could he be doing with five (5) 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 statement added.

The service clarified that the search operation was not a witch hunt but that it decided to move at this time in line with current management resolve to be proactive and pre-empt individuals with penchant for impunity and lawlessness from putting back the nation to the dark days.

“The Service is also aware that the lethal arms and the vehicles recovered were not reflected in Sambo’s handover notes or 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 (3) 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,” it added, noting that the service would not trample on the freedom of individuals or groups as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution but emphasised that the current administration’s position on transparency, and probity underlined by justice and equity for all Nigerians is the driving force for all DSS operations and that the service would not hesitate to go after any person or group of persons, no matter how highly placed once such individual (s) breach or attempt to breach the laws of the Federation.

“The days for impunity and indecisiveness in the face of unpatriotic acts by individuals operating against the state are over,” it warned.
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