Why DSS rearrested Sowore

Fri, Dec 6, 2019
By publisher
3 MIN READ

Judiciary

THE Department of Security Service, DSS, has rearrested Omoyele Sowore, convener of RevolutionNow at the court premises on Friday. He was rearrested barely 24 hours after his release and the DSS has not giving any reason for his re-arrest.

But Realnews gathered that Sowore was rearrested because of the fear that if he is released he will jump bail and leave the country and thereafter start causing problem for the government.

Prior to his rearrest today, there was commotion in the courtroom presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu as the DSS forceful disrupted proceedings at the court forcing the judge and lawyers to scamper to safety.

Ojukwu had on Thursday ordered the release of Sowore giving the DSS a 24-hour ultimatum to grant him freedom.

The court also awarded N100,000 against the prosecution for failing to comply with court orders requesting the release of Sowore and for not serving the defense counsel with necessary documents early enough.

The penalty, Ojukwu said, must be paid to the defendants before the commencement of trial.

The judge consequently adjourned hearing till Friday.

Sowore has been in DSS detention for 124 days. Sowore was first arrested by the DSS on Saturday, August 3, for planning a nationwide protest tagged #RevolutionNow.

The Nigerian government filed additional charges against Sowore on Friday, September 20, a day before the completion of the initial 45 days the court allowed the DSS to keep him in custody.

Sowore’s lawyer Femi Falana, in an earlier affidavit, told the court “that the applicant (Sowore) herein has never been charged with any criminal offence whatsoever” and should be granted bail.

However, Nigerian lawyers have condemned the violent rearrest of Sowore. Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, SAN and human rights activist,   said: “This is lawlessness at its peak, for operatives of DSS to storm a courtroom where there is a presiding judge to arrest Omoyele Sowore, right inside the courtroom. It was reported that the presiding judge was chased away with guns and the whole courtroom is in pandemonium right now.

“I don’t feel proud to be a lawyer right now at all, let alone being a citizen of a country of lawless officers of the law who are shaming the law. “We must rise up and kick against this evil”.

Monday Ubani, former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Chapter said: “I am really ashamed at this time! I have never been this embarrassed”.

Another lawyer, Nkeiruka Nwachukwu urged the Nigerian Bar Association to wake up. “This is an affront to the legal profession. How can such arrest be made inside the court? Such illegality.”

Obviously irked by the DSS action, Olamide Adaramola fumed: “I wish Nigeria was not a country.”

Some other lawyers called out Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Festus Keyamo and other senior lawyers in President Buhari’s cabinet, charging them to call the DSS to order. – With reports from The Guardian and Political Economist

– Dec. 6, 2019 @ 12:19 GMT |

 

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