Buhari Does Not Preclude Bail – Adesina

Source: thewillnigeria.com

BEVERLY HILLS, January 11, (THEWILL) – Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, has said President Muhammadu Buhari does not preclude bail of anyone arrested in the ongoing corruption war.

Adesina was speaking in reference to the incarceration of Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser (NSA), and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who were rearrested after being granted bail by the court.

Buhari had in his first presidential media chat at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, gave reasons why the Federal Government would not readily allow both Dasuki and Kanu to regain their freedom from detention.

Whereas, Kanu, who is facing a six-count charge bordering on treason, has been in detention since October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS), the former NSA, who is facing multiple charges before three different courts, was re-arrested last week at the gate of Kuje Prisons, Abuja, shortly after he perfected all his bail conditions.

“Our President is a straight shooter, whatever is in his mind is what he tells you. He doesn't believe in manipulating or any form of rigmarole. What he said was that those people had grievous charges against them, but then, he does not preclude bail, if there are no pending charges against them,” he revealed.

“The situation now is when bail is granted, before that bail is perfected, those who are prosecuting them would have come with fresh charges, which warrant their being held further. So, that is the position, if there are no fresh charges, and there is bail, there is no reason to hold them. But the truth is that there are fresh charges levelled against them.”

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, had said on Sunday that there was no legal justification for the re-arrest of the duo, urging the President to keep his promise to fight corruption and end impunity in the country.

He argued that if the government was aggrieved with the bail granted the duo, they should appeal against the court rulings.

Adesina, who spoke during an interview on Radio Continental at the weekend, also said the arrest of the Jafaru Isa, a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and perceived associate of the President, who has since been released, was an indication that there was no friend or foe in the anti-corruption war.

“One of the quickest ways for President Buhari to lose confidence in anybody is for that person to be tarred with the brush of corruption, and if proven to be true, you are on your own.

“All those who have said he is selective; it is because they do not know him. We know how much he detests corruption, and if any case is proven against anybody, no matter how close the person is, no matter how high ranking, that person will answer for it,” he said.

Story by David Oputah