The Department of State Services (DSS) in compliance with Federal Government Directive has freed the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore from detention after four months.
The release of Sowore came a few hours after the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) directed DSS to release the Sahara Reporters publisher and the immediate-past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
“The Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation has reviewed the pending criminal charges against the duo of Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) and Omoyele Sowore. Whilst the Federal High Court has exercised its discretion in granting bail to the Defendants in respect of the charges against them, I am also not unmindful of the right of the Complainant/Prosecution to appeal or further challenge the grant of bail by the court having regards to extant legal provisions, particularly Section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. However, my Office has chosen to comply with the court orders while considering the pursuit of its rights of appeal and/or review of the order relating to the bail as granted or varied by the courts.
“In line with the provisions of Sections 150(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and in compliance with the bail granted to Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) (as recently varied by the Court of Appeal) and the bail granted to Omoyele Sowore, I have directed the State Security Services to comply with the order granting bail to the Defendants and effect their release.
“The two Defendants are enjoined to observe the terms of their bail and refrain from engaging in any act that is inimical to public peace and national security as well as their ongoing trial which will run its course in accordance with the laws of the land”, Malami said in a statement.
Consequently, was seen freed Sowore after he was released from the custody of the DSS at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja at about 6.20pm on Tuesday.
However, Dasuki who was also to regain his freedom after been in detention since 2015 for allegedly diverting funds meant to tackle insurgency in the North-East was not seen released by DSS.
DSS had ignored several court orders to release Dasuki since 2015, including the latest by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on July 10, 2020 after reviewing his bail conditions.
James Kwen, Abuja
