JUST IN: Sowore meets bail conditions, Falana at DSS for his release

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, visited the headquarters
of the Department of State Service in Abuja on Wednesday to secure
the release of convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele
Sowore, from the agency’s custody.

Falana visited the DSS office after Sowore complied with the
Tuesday’s order of the Federal High Court in Abuja which directed
him to deposit his passport at the court’s registry as condition
for his release from the custody of the security agency.

“I am currently at their headquarters. Having complied with the
condition given by the court, I am here for Sowore’s release,”
Falana told our correspondent on the telephone at about 4pm on
Wednesday.

An “affidavit of compliance with court order” deposed to by a
lawyer in Falana’s law firm, Mr. Marshal Abubakar was filed before
the Federal High Court in Abuja as confirmation of the submission
of Sowore’s to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

It read in part, “That on September 24, 2019, this honourable
court per Hon. Justice Taiwo Taiwo mandated the
applicant/respondent to release the respondent/applicant
forthwith.

“That the said order has since been served on the
applicant/respondent (DSS). Attached hereto and marked Exhibit 1 is
a copy of the endorsement by the applicant/respondent.

“That the court also ordered the respondent/applicant to deposit
his international passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of this
honourable court within 48 hours.

“That the respondent/applicant’s international passport with
passport number A50255207 has been deposited with the Deputy Chief
Registrar of this honourable court.”

A letter titled, ‘Notice of compliance with court order’ was
signed by Abubakar and addressed to the office of the Deputy Chief
Registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The letter was received Wednesday by the office of the DCR.

It read in part, “In line with the court order we respectfully
forward with the instant correspondence, the international passport
of Mr. Stephen Omoyele Sowore with passport number A50255207 to
your good self.”

Justice Taiwo Taiwo had on Tuesday ordered the release o Sowore,
from the custody of the Department of State Service
immediately.

The judge said the activist should be released to his lawyer,
Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who is to produce him for arraignment
whenever he is needed.

The judge however said since charges had already been filed
against the activist, he must deposit his passport and other travel
documents to guarantee his availability for trial.

He ordered that the passport should be deposited at the court’s
registry within 48 hours.

He said since the order for detention permitting the DSS to keep
the activist for 45 days had expired, the activist ought to be
released immediately.

The DSS, on September 3, arrested Sowore, the publisher of
Sahara Reporters and former presidential candidate in the 2019
general elections over his call for revolution protest scheduled to
hold on September 5.

Justice Taiwo, on September 8, granted an ex parte application
by the DSS permitting the security agency to keep the activist for
45 days.

The 45 days period expired on Saturday.

Barely 24 hours to the expiration of the 45 days detention
order, the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office filed
charges of treasonable felony, cybercrime offences and money
laundering against him before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

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