Court orders release of former Nigerian security chief

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria

An international court Tuesday criticized Nigeria’s detention of a former security adviser, describing his arrest and imprisonment as a “mockery of democracy and rule of law”.

The tribunal of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ruled that Sambo Dasuki’s arrest in November last year was illegal and arbitrary.

A search of his home without a valid court warrant violated Nigerian and international law.

“The pattern of arrest and continued detention of the appellant are a gross violation of his fundamental human rights... and the defendants are hereby directed to free him,” the panel chaired by Justice Friday Nwoke said in a ruling.

It noted that Dasuki had been granted bail by three different domestic courts.

The court also awarded damages of 15 million naira ($48,000) against the government for the unlawful detention.

Dasuki, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, faces charges linked to the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion in funds earmarked for weapons to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast.