Sowore Enjoys Being In Our Custody, DSS Claims – TheNigerialawyer

The Department of State Services has claimed that pro-democracy
campaigner and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, on
his own volition made a choice to be kept in their custody instead
of a correctional centre.

DSS claimed that instead of being remanded at the Kuje
Correctional Center in line with the order of the court, Sowore
preferred to be kept in their facility, according to Sahara
Reporters.

In a statement on Friday, Public Relations Officer of the DSS,
Peter Afunanya, said, “There has been an outcry about the alleged
illegal detention of some notable persons undergoing trials at the
courts and disobedience to court orders by the Service.

“To put the records straight, the Service wishes to advert
public attention to the circumstances that warranted the custody of
Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) and Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky in its
facility.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the duo had appealed to the courts
to be left in the custody of the Service instead of being taken to
the correctional centres.

“Well-meaning Nigerians are equally witnesses to the case of
Omoleye Sowore, who, on a similar order of the court was to be
remanded at the Kuje or Suleja centres but preferred to be kept
with the DSS.”

Afunanya added that Sowore had been accorded and treated with
respect and courtesy in its facility.

He said the activist was allowed access to people and use of
facilities like telephones, gymnasium, television, newspapers and
medical treatment.

Recall that Sowore spoke from detention on Friday, alleging that
the DSS was making frantic efforts to ensure that he was not be
freed and that there were attempts to infiltrate the ranks of the
#RevolutionNow movement by the secret police.

The DSS had come under intense pressure from within and outside
Nigeria to release Sowore and Olawale Bakare widely known as
Mandate after twice meeting their bail conditions.

Sowore was arrested on August 3, 2019 for calling on Nigerians
to take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations to demand a
better country from the administration of President Buhari.

The government has cooked up frivolous charges against him –
among them insulting Buhari and trying to overthrow his
administration – claims analysts around the world have described as
laughable.