A Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, has denied the request
of the Federal Government for an ex-parte order to keep convener of
RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, for at least 90 days.
The human rights crusader was picked up in a Lagos hotel in the early
hours of Saturday by operatives of the Department of State Services and
has been kept in custody ever since despite growing calls for his
immediate release.
The President Muhammadu Buhari administration had accused Sowore of
committing a treasonable act for calling on Nigerians to pour out on the
streets on August 5, 2019 to protest against his government’s failure to
improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
Many of the protesters, who took to the streets in major cities across
the country were met with harassment and arrest from security
operatives.
In its application on Tuesday, the FG through the DSS claimed that the
90-day window would enable it to conclude investigations into acts of
terrorism it is accusing Sowore of.