EFCC, Military finally release Dasuki's aide
Colonel Nicholas Ashinze with mother, brothers and his children after he arrived
home.
(Nigeria) The Federal Government has released Colonel Nicholas
Ashinze, the former Military Assistant to former National Security Adviser,
NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd) at 2p.m., on Wednesday.
Colonel Ashinge who had been under the custody of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Military Authority has already reunited with his family.
A judge of an Abuja High Court, sitting in Jabi Justice
Yusuf Haliru had on March 14, 2016 ordered EFCC, and the Nigerian Army to release the serving Colonel Ashinze who
served as Military Assistant to former NSAs, Sambo Dasuki and Patrick Azazi.
Colonel Ashinze who was detained before resuming his new
posting as Defence Attaché in Germany, has been in detention since December 23,
2015.
In his judgment, Justice Yusuf Haliru, had ordered the
anti-graft agency and the army to immediately release the applicant on
self-recognition, saying his detention for over three months without trial, was
“illegal, wrongful, unlawful and constituted a blatant violation of the
fundamental rights of the applicant.”
The court also ordered immediate release of documents and
items the anti-graft agency seized from the house of the applicant.
Justice Haliru who cautioned the EFCC and the Army which he
said acted as if Nigeria was still under military dictatorship said: “The EFCC
is a creation of the law. The court will not allow it to act as if it is above
the law. It is remarkable to note that the motto of the EFCC is that nobody is
above the law, yet they are acting as if they are above the law.
“The EFCC Act is not superior to the constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. The respondents in this matter have not behaved as
if we are in a civilised society. They have behaved as if we are in a military
dictatorship where they arrest and release persons at will.”
The judge said the constitution stipulated that any person
so detained should be charged to court within reasonable time not exceeding two
months from the date of arrest.
Justice Haliru stressed that under section 36 of the 1999
constitution, as amended, an accused person is deemed innocent until his guilt
is established. He therefore asked: “Why has the 1st respondent kept the
applicant without bringing him to court? Why was the applicant, being a serving
military officer who could be easily reached, not granted administrative bail?
Or is it that the applicant has been found guilty and already serving his jail
term?
“Nobody should be subjected to the whims and caprices of the
EFCC. The essence of the rule of law and constitutional provisions is to ensure
a just balance between the ruler and the ruled, between the powerful and the
weak.
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