A Federal High Court has granted the convener of the #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, bail after fifty-two days in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). Sowore was arrested by the DSS on August 3 for calling for nationwide protests against the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
On August 8, Justice Taiwo granted the DSS’ ex-parte motion to keep Sowore for 45 days while the agency concluded its investigations. Last week, the FG filed seven counts of treasonable felony and money laundering against Sowore, seeking to extend his detention.
During the resumed hearing today, the Federal Government prosecutor, Godwin Agbadua, had argued that Sowore be detained in the “interest of justice and national security”. According to Agbadua, the charges brought against him fall under capital offences.
But Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana, argued that his client was charged with insulting the president, money laundering and conspiracy to commit treason, all of which he said are not capital offences.
After further arguments, Agbadua said the facts of his motion had been overtaken by events and therefore, asked to withdraw the application to further detain Sowore. Following the withdrawal, the court struck out the application. Justice Taiwo Taiwo in his ruling ordered Sowore’s release but asked him deposit all his travel documents with the court.
Join our twitter community :
