#RevolutionNow#: Falana SAN Seeks Hearing Date For Sowore’s Application

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, on Thursday, prayed
the Federal High Court, Abuja, to give him a date for hearing in
his application regarding Mr Omoyele Sowore’s, Convener,
#RevolutionNow protests detention.

Sowore. who is presently in detention had, on Aug 9, approached
the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking an order to vacate the ex
parte order that gave the Department of State Service (DSS) the
legal backing to detain him for 45 days.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Taiwo Taiwo,
in a ruling on Aug. 8 in an exparte application, ordered Sowore’s
detention for the said period to enable the DSS carry out and
conclude its investigation on allegations levied against him.

The DSS had also, on Tuesday, challenged the court order,
allowing it to detain Sowore for 45 days against its request of 90
days pending investigation.

Sowore, who is the publisher of SaharaReporters and Presidential
Candidate, African Action Congress (AAC) in the Feb. 2019 general
elections, was arrested in the early hours of Aug. 4 by the
operatives of the DSS in a hotel in Lagos.

He was moved to Abuja on Aug. 4.

The state agency said Sowore was arrested on account of the
#RevolutionNow protest which he had spearheaded.

However, in a motion on notice, brought pursuant to sections 6
(6) (B), 35 and 36(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, section 293 of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and under the jurisdiction of the court,
Sowore asked the court to vacate the order on the grounds that the
order was made in violation of his full rights.

The motion filed on Aug. 9 by Falana, was predicated on 18
grounds and supported by a 24 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by
one Marshall Abubakar.

However, Falana, who arrived in Court 10 during the court
session at about 1. 05 p.m. on Thursday, walked to the back
seat.

He was not in his lawyer’s attire.

No sooner had he sat down than Justice Taiwo called his name:
“Mr Falana, any thing? You are not in your robe.”

The human rights lawyer stood up, walked to the aile, bowed his
head and said: “My Lord, I am here in respect of the motion we
filed last Friday (Aug. 9).”

The judge said: “I saw it and the reason I have not done
anything is that I am ending my own vacation sitting tomorrow
(Friday).

“Have you served them (the DSS)?”

“We served them since last week,” Falana, who was visibly
unhappy, responded.

He, however, asked if the judge could hear the motion the next
day (Friday).

Justice Taiwo, who appealed to Falana to exercise patience to
decide on the case he was handling suggested they meet in his
chamber to discuss on fixing the date for the hearing.

And as soon as the judge was done with the case, he rose and
Falana joined him in the office.

After few minutes, Falana came out and the newsmen approached
him.

Although he declined to grant an interview, the lawyer: “We
filed our motion since last week and it had not been heard but the
DSS filed its own and within 48 hours, it was heard.”

He, however, told the journalists that their motion on notice
would be heard next week by another judge.

“Another judge will take over on Monday and we will get the date
from the judge,” he said.

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Army Divisions Host Military Competitions

82 DIVISION CONCLUDES INTER BRIGADE COMBAT PROFICIENCY
COMPETITION – 34 ARTILLERY BRIGADE EMERGE OVERALL WINNER

1. The Headquarters 82 Division Nigerian Army has successfully
concluded its 2019 Inter Brigade Combat Proficiency Competition.
The week-long exercise which kick started on Monday 19 August was
declared closed by the General Officer Commanding 82 Division,
Major General Abubakar Sadiq Maikobi, on Thursday 22 August 2019 at
the 82 Division Physical and Training Ground with 34 Artillery
Brigade emerging overall winner of the competition.

2. Activities lined up for the exercise included 10 kilometers
Combat Run, Map Reading, Combat Swimming, Weapon Handling and
Combat Relay competitions which were keenly contested by the 3
participating Brigades which included 13 Brigade Calabar, 14
Brigade Ohafia, 34 Artillery Brigade Owerri as well as 82 Division
Garrison. However, 34 Artillery Brigade Emerged overall Champion by
winning the trophies for weapon handling and Combat Relay while 13
Brigade and 82 Division Garrison clinch second and third position
respectively as 14 Brigade came fourth and took the wooden spoon of
the competiletion.

3. Earlier in his remark, Major General Abubakar Sadq Maikobi
commended the participants for their show of gallantry, endurance
and level of skills displayed during each phase of the competition.
He reminded the contingents that training is the bed rock upon
which transformation is hinged on, adding that the exercise
couldn’t be more timely than at a time when the Armed Forces and
the Nation in general is bedeviled with security challenges. He
congratulated the overall winners and urged others to work harder
against the next edition of the competition.

4. The Special Guest of Honor, His Excellency the Executive
Governor of Enugu State Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ogwuanyi while addressing
the participants and guest at the closing ceremony, said, the event
is indeed a demonstration of the Division readiness to perform its
constitutional role of providing adequate security in the State. He
said such overwhelming performance by the participating contingents
is reassuring of their capacity to effectively carry out their
tasks, assuring that the government and good people of Enugu State
will always work with security agencies within the State to ensure
optimum peace and tranquility in the State. The Governor was
represented by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof
Simon Ortuanya.

5. Other dignitaries that graced the ceremony includes; Air
Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Idi
Amin;Police Commissioner Enugu State, and other Head of Security
and para – military Agencies within Enugu State; Commanders and
Principal Staff Officers of Headquarters 82 Divisions as well as
Brigade Commanders of participating Formations.

ALIYU YUSUF
Colonel
Deputy Director Army Public Relations
82 Division Nigerian Army
………………

Guards Brigade Hosts Inter-Unit Obstacle Crossing

In line with the Brigade forecast of training activities 2019.
The Guards Brigade Nigerian Army held its Inter unit obstacle
crossing competition aimed at evaluating troops physical fitness
and combat survival,it is also aimed at evaluating troops
confidence as well as to promote and instill team spirit and
cooperation amongst the troops. The chief host ,Comd Guards Brigade
Brig Gen Mohammed Takuti Usman stated that the Brigade will
continue to adhere to the training activities in its forecast of
activities despite the primary role of safeguarding the President
of the Federal republic of Nigeria, first Family, the Federal
Capital Territory and environs,the Commander was glad to be around
in person to host his first competition as Commander Guards
Brigade.

The Special Guest of Honour who is the Chief of Staff Army
Headquarters Garrison Brig Gen Hillary Mabeakwu during his remarks
congratulated all the participants on a good performance and urged
all not to relent in their duties as Guards Brigade Troops.

7Guards Battalion emerged winners followed by 176Gds Bn coming
second position and 177 Gds Bn at third postion, 102 Gds Bn coming
fourth and Gds Bde Gar at fifth position.

Captain Haruna Tagwai,
Assistant Director Army Public Relation Guards Brigade