For Omoyele Sowore, activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 generation, there appears to be more frustration for him, as his detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) may continue despite a court order to release him.
The DSS in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya confirmed that it had received the Court Order for the release of activist Sowore, but no one is willing to take delivery of him for now.
Afunanya in the statement said “it is important that the public notes that since the receipt of the Order, no person has turned up at the DSS to take delivery of him. This becomes imperative for reasons of accountability.
“However, the Court has been properly briefed on this development and the steps being taken to ensure compliance with its Order.
“The Service, under the leadership of Yusuf Magaji Bichi (fwc), as the Director General, is not a lawless organization and will never obstruct justice or disobey Court Orders. It, therefore, affirms that it will do all that is needful once the appropriate processes have been concluded,” the statement said.
Sowore was arrested in August by the secret police following his planned protest over the poor condition of the Nigerian economy and the hardship it imposed on Nigerians. However, the #RevolutionNow on which he and allies planned the protest, was seen by the security agencies as a threat of violent uprising against constituted authority and the people of Nigeria.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and the leaders of the DSS warned that the planned protest will be treated as ‘treasonable felony’ and advised members of the public to shun any protests.
However, the allies of Sowore went ahead to organise protests in Abuja, Lagos, Osun and in other parts of the country where they had hectic time as police dispersed and arrested some of the protesters allegedly to keep law and order.
