PDP condemns siege to Dasuki’s residence by DSS; as former NSA chief threatens court action

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the raid at the residence of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki’s by operatives of the Department of State Services [DSS] saying that the move is ‘undemocratic and unconstitutional.’ This is even as the former NSA chief has threatened to take legal action over the matter.

National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement released, Friday, said the action of the DSS amounted to a violation of the rights of the former NSA and contravenes the constitution of the country as well as the tenets of democracy.

Last Monday, July 13, President Muhammadu Buhari had sacked Dasuki as his National Security Adviser and replaced him with retired Major General Babagana Monguno.

The DSS operatives had stormed the house, Thursday evening and had maintained a siege to the Abuja residence of the immediate past National Security Adviser [NSA] till Friday. As at Friday afternoon, visitors were not allowed into the premises as cars that attempted to gain entrance were turned back.

The siege which lasted for over 24 hours was called off when the Federal Government reportedly ordered the withdrawal of operatives of the Department of State Services from the Abuja home of Colonel Dasuki. A move which was effected only after the DSS operatives had allegedly seized Dasuki’s International Passport and other vital documents.

“I came into Abuja today because I read the situation about the invasion of the house of the former NSA and his detention, house arrest and other matters. So I drove to his house as a personal friend to see him and to find out what is happening. Then about seven or eight security operatives came out and they said I cannot see him because the house is under security watch.

“And I asked them: security watch in terms of treason, or in terms of terrorism, or what? I need to know, and they said they are not in a position to say. And why I asked this question is that if it is under security watch, on account of corruption or on account of any other reason, it is totally against the constitution of this country.

“This is a democracy, and the democratic tenets and principles apply. The fact is that we deserve basic freedom, liberties and movements associated with democracy. The truth is that Nigerians are getting scared; we voted for our President, they voted for the President and he was duly elected. Nigerians wanted him, Nigerians voted for him, and now he is the father of the nation, he is the father of everyone; he is not serving any other interest.

“But there are certain activities, as it is happening now, by some of his aides and people around him. It is like they are taking us back to the military era. The last time this happened was under the military,” said Metuh.

The PDP spokesman further described the siege as unconstitutional just as he urged the relevant authorities to respect the rule of law and democratic principles, remarking: “What the PDP lost was an election and not a war.

He called on the government to ensure that those suspected to have committed any act against the laws of the country were handled according to the stipulations of the law.

Later on the same day, after more than 24 hours of siege, the Federal Government reportedly ordered the withdrawal of operatives of the Department of State Services from the Abuja home of Dasuki.

The withdrawal was effected only after they seized his International Passports and other vital documents.

On Monday, July 13, President Muhammadu Buhari sacked retired Colonel Dasuki as his National Security Adviser and replaced him with retired Major General Babagana Monguno.

Meanwhile, the embattled Dasuki has vowed to sue the State Security Service (SSS) for laying siege to his Asokoro, Abuja, residence.

“Dasuki has vowed to challenge the action by seeking legal redress in order to enforce his fundamental human rights,” PRNigeria reported last night.

It said that “even though there is no more restriction of his movement, Dasuki still feels aggrieved that he was deprived of performing his religious obligation of attending the Eid Prayers, making the end of Ramadan Fasting.”