A Wuse Zone II Magistrates’ Court, Abuja on Monday, ordered that Omoyele
Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters and four others be remanded in
Kuje Correctional Centre pending hearing of their bail application.
Chief Magistrate Marble Segun- Bello made the remand order shortly after
the defendants were arraigned before her for allegedly embarking on a
protest over 2021 crossover celebration.
The Federal Government arraigned Sowore and the others on three-count
charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and attempting to
incite others.
Sowore and the others were arrested by the Special Weapons Tactical Team
in Abuja while protesting on New Year’a eve.
According to the prosecution, the defendants were seen carrying placards
calling for a violent revolution.
They all pleaded not guilty to the three count charges.
Following their not guilty plea, prosecuting counsel prayed the court
for their remand at the Kuje Correctional Center as investigations into
the charges were ongoing.
However, the defendants’ counsel, Mr Marshal Abubakar, attempted to make
an oral application for their bail, urging the court to grant them bail
on self recognizance.
Segun- Bello, however, ordered that the defendants file a formal bail
application and adjourned the matter untill Jan. 5 to hear the bail
application.
She ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Center
pending the determination of their bail applications.(NAN)