TheCable

Itse Sagay, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), says the government should obey court orders and release Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), and Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.

Dasuki and El-Zakzaky have been in the Department of State Services (DSS) detention for years despite court orders for their release.

Last week, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, said Dasuki was still being held because there were other charges against him. He also said El-Zazaky was in protective custody and not in detention.

But in an interview with PUNCH, Sagay advised the government to release the detainees or file an appeal against the court orders for their release.

“The court orders should be obeyed and I don’t know what reason the government has for not releasing them. If they have good reasons, they should canvass the reasons before the court and leave the court to decide,” he said.

“If the court rules against them, then they should appeal against the ruling and then apply for stay of the ruling pending the appeal. That is what the government should do rather than detaining them perpetually.”