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Court adjourns ruling in Nigeria ex-security adviser case

By AFP
Nigeria Former national security adviser of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki R, speaks with his lawyer Ahmed Raji, during his trial at the federal high court in Abuja, on September 1, 2015.  By STRINGER AFPFile
JUN 29, 2016 LISTEN
Former national security adviser of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki (R), speaks with his lawyer Ahmed Raji, during his trial at the federal high court in Abuja, on September 1, 2015. By STRINGER (AFP/File)

Lagos (AFP) - A west African regional court on Wednesday adjourned a ruling in a case in which Nigeria's former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki is challenging his detention by the country's secret police.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court had reserved a ruling until Wednesday after the submissions of both the prosecution and defence lawyers in the high-profile corruption trial.

But court officials told reporters in Abuja on Wednesday that a new date for the ruling would be communicated to counsels.

Dasuki, who served under the regime of former president Goodluck Jonathan until his defeat in the 2015 elections by President Muhammadu Buhari, had urged the regional court to void his detention since December by the Department of State Service (DSS).

Despite being granted bail by the three separate courts, the DSS has continued to detain Dasuki without pressing any new charges.

The former spy master is facing a slew of charges over allegedly bogus arms deals in which money meant for military procurement to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast was diverted for political purposes.

The government considers Dasuki a flight risk while Buhari has said the country cannot allow him to "jump bail".

Dasuki has said his trial is politically-motivated and to settle old scores.

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