Former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) has said that, in all his dealing in office, he was only answerable to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Dasuki, who insisted on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja on the need for him to consult records to give meaningful and cogent evidence in the trial of former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisah Metuh on alleged N400 million corruption charges brought against by government, said that all transaction in his office followed due process.

He told the court that he did not commit any unlawful transaction with Metuh as NSA to former President Jonathan between June 2012 and July 2015.

Dasuki, who entered as a witness for the second time at the instance of Metuh, told Justice Okoh Abang that he would not be able to give evidence on documents that were not authenticated by his records.

Led in evidence by Metuh’s lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, the former NSA told the court that he had never entered into any unlawful transaction with former spokesman of the PDP while he was in the office.

He further said that as the NSA, he was in charge collating security issues and reporting to the President as demanded by the law that established the Office of the NSA.

Dasuki said he had never being convicted by any court of law for whatever offence in his life.

He however regretted that the Federal Government, by its actions against his person, had convicted him in the court of public opinion even when his own side of the story had not been heard as demanded by the Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria.

He said: “I have being maligned and convicted in the court of public opinion by my traducers against the usual judicial process through court trials.”

Under cross examination by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, Dasuki maintained that he carried out the functions of the NSA diligently to the satisfaction of the nation and former President Jonathan, who appointed him to the office.

He told the court that, as the man in charge of national security, he was only answerable to the President on matters bothering on security issues generally.

However, attempt to be cross-examined on some documents was resisted and turned by Dasuki on the ground that he could not certify any document he did not author or authenticate by his office.

Dasuki told the court of the need for him to be allowed to access his records and make clarifications and consultations in order to be in good position to give cogent and verifiable evidence in the transaction that led to the filing of criminal charges against Metuh.

Earlier, Justice Abang had ruled that Dasuki was a willing and responsible witness who was ready to give evidence in the trial of Metuh and his company.

Justice Abang said: “Colonel Dasuki (retired) is composed and alert. He is not a difficult person but is willing to answer questions.”

Following an end of Dasuki’s evidence, Justice Abang then discharged the witness and adjourned trial till next month. (PRNigeria)

•Photo shows former NSA Sambo Dasuki with the author of “An Encounter with the Spymaster”, Yushau Shuaib, at Federal High Court Abuja, on Friday.

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