Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has called on the Federal Government to
obey court orders regarding the detention of embattled former National Security
Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) and the leader of the Islamic Movement of
Nigeria, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
Sagay was adding his voice to the recent calls by the
Nigerian Bar Association for the release of Dasuki and El-Zakzaky.
The NBA had lambasted the President Muhammadu Buhari led
Federal Government over the continued detention of El-Zakyzaky and Dasuki
despite court orders, which admitted them to bail.
“The NBA is appalled at the continued detention of certain
individuals in blatant disobedience to court orders. Among these individuals
are Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakyzaky and his wife, and also Col. Sambo Dasuki.
“While we recognize the seriousness of the charges in which
individuals were held, we nevertheless viewed their continued detention as
unjustified and contrary to the express court orders. We call on the government
to without further delays respect theses orders,” NBA President, Abubakar
Balarabe Mahmoud, SAN, had said.
Adding his voice, the PACAC chairman agreed with the NBA
regarding the prolonged probe of judges without trial.
He told Punch, “The court orders should be obeyed and I
don’t know what reason the government has for not releasing them. If they have
good reasons, they should canvass the reasons before the court and leave the
court to decide.
“The Federal Government should hurry up and if they cannot
file the adequate charges, then they should inform the people involved and
allow them to continue with their careers on the bench.”
The PACAC chairman, however, disagreed with the NBA
regarding the non-confirmation of the acting Chairman of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
“What makes Nigeria a laughing stock in the face of the
world?
“It is clear that the President can appoint an acting head
of any of the agencies and that has been done.
“It is also clear from the terms of Section 176 of the
Constitution that the President can appoint a person outright head, not even
acting, without consulting anybody”, he said.
By Ameh Comrade Godwin
