#RevolutionNow: FG Files Charges Against Sowore

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has filed charges bordering on treasonable felony and money laundering against the convener of the #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore.

Naija News understands that Sowore, who was also the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), is charged alongside Olawale Bakare, also known as Mandate, in a seven-count charge filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

The Department of State Services (DSS), who are currently detaining Sowore, had claimed that the publisher of SaharaReporters was involved in acts of terrorism and plotted to topple the government; allegations he has since denied.

In the charges filed on Friday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), accused the duo of committing conspiracy to commit a treasonable felony in breach of section 516 of the Criminal Code Act by allegedly staging “a revolution campaign on September 5, 2019, aimed at removing the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

They are also alleged to have actually committed the offence of reasonable felony in breach of Section, 4(1)(c) of the Criminal Code Act, by using the platform of Coalition for Revolution, on August 2019 in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, to staged the #RevolutionNow protest allegedly aimed at removing the President.

Malami also accused Sowore of involving in cybercrime offences in violation of section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, by “knowingly” sending “messages by means of press interview granted on Arise Television network, which you knew to be false, for the purpose of causing insult, enmity, hatred and ill-will on the person of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The Buhari govt also accused Sowore of money laundering offences in breach of section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 by allegedly transferring by means of swift wire various sums of money from his United Bank of Africa Plc account with number 3002246104 into Sahara Reporters Media Foundation’s account with Guaranty Trust Bank in order to conceal the origin of the funds.

He was alleged to have allegedly transfered $19,975 on April 2, 2019; $20,475 on May 21, 2019, $16,975 on June 27, 2019, and another $16,975 on July 16, 2019.

Listed as exhibits to be relied upon by the prosecution are Sowore’s written statement, transcripts of his statement, video recordings, audio recordings, statements of bank accounts, media publication and “any other exhibits the prosecution may later supply in its additional proof of evidence.”