The Department of State Services says the latest round of face-off with former National Security Adviser, SAMBO DASUKI, has nothing to do with his ongoing prosecution for which his travel documents were released on the orders of a court to enable him seek medical treatment overseas.
A statement by the spokesman of the DSS, TONY OPUIYO, noted that retired Colonel DASUKI is required to appear before a committee that is carrying out a separate investigation of a two billion dollars arms transaction while he was in office as National Security Adviser.
The DSS spokesman said SAMBO DASUKI had refused to honour invitations to appear before the investigative panel, which left the DSS with no option than to adopt legal means to ensure that he appears.
The DSS accused the former National Security Adviser of resorting to grandstanding and subtle blackmail as cover-up, stressing that it had no doubt SAMBO DASUKI was pulling all strings available to him to evade justice and put the service in bad light.
The statement further noted that the DSS was not persecuting DASUKI, and urged Nigerians to disregard the impression being created by him.
The DSS emphasized its commitment to the rule of law and strict adherence to democratic ideals.
The spy agency warned that any person, no matter how highly placed, who may want to test the will of the present dispensation, will definitely be checked through the provisions of the law.
You will recall that security operatives yesterday mounted fresh surveillance around the Abuja residence of the former National Security Adviser, with media reports suggesting that the surveillance was meant to stop DASUKI from traveling out of the country.
DASUKI is facing a one-count charge of illegal possession of firearms, but the Department of State Security Service is seeking to bring additional five charges against him.
The DSS is also accusing him of money laundering and possession of huge sums of foreign currency in cash.
