TheCable

Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), rejected the offer of the federal government to attend the burial of his father.

Abdulrahman Dambazau, retired general and minister of interior, disclosed this to reporters in Sokoto on Tuesday after the burial of the 18th sultan who died on Monday night.

He said the federal government first offered to allow the detained former NSA to visit his sick father at the hospital some days ago but he declined, saying he preferred to remain in detention and pray for him.

“A second offer was also made to him Monday night to be taken to Sokoto to lead the mourning for his deceased, and he again turned down the offer,” Dambazau said.

Speaking after the burial at the Sultan Bello Mosque, Dambazau said he conferred with the DSS DG, Lawal Daura, on the need to allow Dasuki visit his grieving family.

Dambazau said: “Let me correct the impression that Col Sambo Dasuki was prevented from attending the burial rites of his father.

“We had discussed with the DG SSS and he was offered the opportunity to visit his late father on his hospital bed in Abuja.

“He declined, saying he preferred to remain where he was and pray for his sick father. He was also offered to be in Sokoto throughout the mourning period and also declined, preferring to pray for him. That was the true situation.”

Dasuki’s refusal to attend the burial is thought to be in protest at the failure of the government to release him on bail despite several rulings by the court.

The former NSA has been in detention for over a year as the Buhari administration probes the funds meant for the purchase of arms under the former government.