The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied claims that it was
refusing to obey the order of a Federal High Court ordering the release
of the convener of #Revolutionnow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.
In a telephone conversation with Channels Television, the Public
Relations Officer of the Service, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said counsel to
Mr. Sowore is yet to perfect the conditions for his release.
He added that the service remains a law-abiding agency and committed to
the rule of law.
This was after Femi Falana, who is the lawyer to Sowore, on Wednesday,
said that despite fulfilling the bail conditions of his client since
morning, the Department of State Services (DSS) was yet to release him.
In a telephone conversation with Channels Television, Mr Falana
explained that no reason has been given by the agency for its failure to
comply with the court order delivered on Tuesday, September 24, 2019.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo had ordered the release of Mr Sowore who is also the
publisher of Sahara Reporters who was arrested on the eve of his planned
protest across Nigeria and detained for 45 days in the DSS custody over
allegations of treasonable felony and money laundering.
A day before the 45-day detention was to elapse, the Federal Government
filed additional Charges against him.
At the hearing on Tuesday, the Federal Government prosecutor, Godwin
Agbadua, stated that Sowore had committed a capital offence and should
still be detained in the “interest of justice and national security”.
After hearing arguments from both the prosecuting and defence counsels,
the Judge ordered Sowore’s release on the ground that there was no order
still in court.
He, however, ordered Sowore to deposit all his travel documents with the
court in the next 48 hours and also asked his lawyer (Mr Falana) to
present him whenever the court needs him.