The Presidency, Saturday, said its lawyers had appealed the reinstatement of former Acting Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Dauda, by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
Dauda was dismissed on March 6, 2018 over corruption allegations.
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The former NIA boss, without challenging his dismissal, had dragged the Federal Government to court to demand his reinstatement, a prayer granted by the National Industrial Court on Thursday, with N1 million compensation against the defendant.
But a Presidency official, Saturday, said “government’s lawyers have filed a notice of appeal and stay of execution of the judgment, adding that “the issue surrounding this case is a national security matter, and will not be taken lightly.”
In an originating summons filed through his counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN) and marked NICN/ABJ/136/2018, Dauda had asked the court to determine whether the procedure adopted by the defendants in the case leading to his purported dismissal was in compliance with Article 8(1) and (2) of the National Securities Agency Act (CAPS 278) 1986.
He also asked the court to determine whether the purported letter dismissing him issued on March 6, 2018 was not unlawful, null and void and of no effect whatsoever, amongst other paryers.
Delivering judgment, Justice Olufunke Anuwe granted all the reliefs sought by the claimant.
The presidency, in the statement, however hinted that it had filed for stay of execution, warning that the matter bordered on national security and would not be taken lightly.
