Sowore of
Sahara Reporters, AAC Presidential
Sowore of
Sahara Reporters, AAC Presidential Candidate
Court Orders DSS to Release Sowore to
Lawyer
Respite came the way of the detained activist and Presidential
candidate in the last general election Mr Omoyele Sowore as a
federal High Court in Abuja ordered his immediate release from
unlawful custody of the Department of the State Security Service
where he had been held for about 60 days.
The Convener of #RevolutionNow protest was ordered to be
released to his lead counsel and human rights activist Mr Femi
Falana SAN.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo issued the order in Abuja adding that the
senior constitutional lawyer must produced him in court during
trial days.
Justice Taiwo said the release was contingent on the grounds
that the order of detention made on August 8, has elapsed and that
Sowore has been in the custody of the federal government since
August 2.
The judge had on August 8 while delivering ruling in an exparte
application brought by the federal government ordered the detention
of Sowore for a period of 45 days to enable officers of the
Department of State Service, conclude investigation of alleged
treasonable felony and other charges against Sowore.
The court however ordered that Sowore would not be kept longer
than the 45 days granted by it without a fresh application for his
further detention.
The 45 days elapsed on September 21.
When the matter came up Monday, the court held that following
the expiration of the detention order for 45 days and the absence
of any application for Sowore’s further detention, the court is
inclined to order for his release.
The prosecution had applied for the extension of the order for
20 days however, the prosecution counsel, Godwin Agbadua announced
withdrawal of the application of the motion, adding that the
defenfant had already been charged with treasonable felony, money
laundering as well as insulting the president.
Justice Taiwo in a short ruling held that there is no
application before him for extension of the detention order and
there are evidence that the prosecution has concluded its
investigation of the defenfant, accordingly ordered for the
immediate release of Sowore.
He however ordered that Sowore submits his international
passport with the court.
Sowore was arrested in the early hours of Saturday August 2 in a
hotel in Lagos by men of the DSS on account of the #RevolutionNow
protest which he had spearheaded.
He was then moved to Abuja the following day and kept in custody
of the DSS where he has been till date following an order of
court.